Court Opinion

ID: 9588142
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:30:32.374814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:37.689254
License: Public Domain

Quillian, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent from the majority opinion for two reasons.
1. The cases cited as a basis for holding that the appeal is not moot deal with issues brought to the Georgia Supreme Court under a petition for habeas corpus. This is an appeal enumerating as error only that: "the trial court erred in that the weight of the evidence is contrary to the verdict.”
There are basic differences between the purpose of an appeal from a conviction and a petition of habeas corpus. "It is a well-settled rule of practice and procedure that where one.. .has been convicted of crime, habeas corpus cannot be used as a substitute for appeal or other remedial procedure for the correction of errors and irregularities; nor can it be used as a second appeal for such purpose. It is an appropriate remedy only when the judgment or sentence under which applicant is being restrained is not merely erroneous but is absolutely void.” Ferguson v. Balkcom, 222 Ga. 676, 677 (151 SE2d 707); Bonner v. Smith, 226 Ga. 250, 251 (3) (174 SE2d 438). There is no allegation in this appeal that the conviction is void so as to make the habeas corpus cases cited by the majority applicable to this issue.
In habeas corpus petitions a void conviction may always be asserted as error, regardless of the age of the conviction. Thus, whether or not the sentence has been served under such conviction should not moot the issue of a void conviction "where the petitioner 'is suffering collateral consequences in the nature of a due process violation.’ ” Nix v. State, 233 Ga. 73, 75 (209 SE2d 597).
*792This court is one for "correction of errors of law.” Art. VI, Sec. II, Par. VIII, Constitution of Georgia of 1945 (Code Ann. § 2-3708). We should adhere to the rule that on an appeal this court will not consider the record in any case where it is shown that the controversy or judgment has been satisfied. If we permit appeals where the issue has been mooted in criminal cases because of the possibility of adverse collateral consequences, where does this leave the issue of mootness in civil cases?
2. Even if I reached the merits, which I do not, there is no basis for reversal predicated on an enumeration of error that "the weight of the evidence is contrary to the verdict.” As this court held in O’Quinn v. James, 127 Ga. App. 94, 96 (192 SE2d 507): "An enumeration of error that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence addresses itself to the discretion of the trial court, not this court (Code § 70-206).. .” Accord, Josey v. State, 197 Ga. 82, 93 (28 SE2d 290).