Court Opinion

ID: 9664017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:59:48.033512+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:01.198983
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing.
Counsel for appellant complains that we failed to respond to certain assignments of error and propositions of law included in his brief. Counsel contends that the statement of the trial Judge in open court, that defendant was found guilty and a fine assessed and sentence to hard labor imposed, had the effect of a jury verdict. That though the court, by virtue of Title 15, Section 334, could suspend the sentence, he was without authority to withdraw the fine and permit counsel to present argument, except by the granting of a motion for a new trial.
Courts of record have inherent power, independent of Section 276 of Title 7, Code 1940, to set aside and vacate their orders or judgments within the term and for common law causes. Batson v. State, 216 Ala. 275, 113 So. 300; Schaeffer v. Walker, 241 Ala. 530, 3 So.2d 405; Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. v. Cahela, 251 Ala. 163, 36 So.2d 513.
Moreover, “The few cases dealing with the effect of a mere oral announcement of a sentence establish the rule that the oral statement of the judge, without an entry thereof in the records, does not constitute a conclusive judgment.” State of Wash. ex rel. Echtle v. Card, 148 Wash. 270, 268 P. 869, 59 A.L.R. 521; 15 Am.Jur. Criminal Law, Section 444.
The oral pronouncement of the sentence and the assessing of the fine was not conclusive as to the court and the judge could withdraw the orders and permit the case to be argued.
Application overruled.