Court Opinion

ID: 9514151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:44:52.957655+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:12.621500
License: Public Domain

MARING, Justice,
dissenting.
[¶ 17] I, respectfully, dissent. Although I agree with the majority’s analysis and conclusion that the trial court has jurisdiction in part III, I am of the opinion that this is not an appropriate case to exercise our supervisory jurisdiction. Therefore, I would deny the State’s petition for a supervisory writ.
[¶ 18] As the majority acknowledges, this Court has discretionary authority to exercise original jurisdiction to issue supervisory writs, and it exercises that discretion rarely and cautiously “only to rectify errors and prevent injustice in extraordinary cases token no adequate alternative remedy exists.” Majority, at ¶ 6 (emphasis added) (citing Forum Commc’ns Co. v. Paulson, 2008 ND 140, ¶ 8, 752 N.W.2d 177; Trinity Hosps. v. Mattson, 2006 ND 231, ¶6, 723 N.W.2d 684) (citation omitted). This Court’s discretionary power to issue a supervisory writ cannot be invoked as a matter of right, and we “ ‘generally will not exercise supervisory jurisdiction where the proper remedy is an appeal.’ ” Forum Commc’ns Co., 2008 ND 140, ¶ 8, 752 N.W.2d 177 (quoting Roe v. Rothe-Seeger, 2000 ND 63, ¶ 5, 608 N.W.2d 289). I recognize, as does the majority, that we have exercised supervisory jurisdiction in cases involving issues of vital public concern. See id. at ¶ 9; Trinity Hosps., 2006 ND 231, ¶8, 723 N.W.2d 684; Mitchell v. Sanborn, 536 N.W.2d 678, 683 (N.D.1995). However, “a supervisory writ is not intended to be a substitute for appeal.” Grand Forks Herald v. District Court, 322 N.W.2d 850, 852 (N.D.1982).
[¶ 19] The majority grants the supervisory writ on the grounds the case presents an issue of vital concern regarding matters of important public interest, without first addressing whether the State had an adequate alternative remedy. It is my opinion that there was an adequate alternative remedy available to the State, and the State merely failed to properly exercise it.
[¶ 20] On May 5, 2009, the trial court issued an order dismissing the charge against Anderson of driving while license was suspended for lack of jurisdiction, without prejudice. On May 12, 2009, the State moved the trial court for reconsideration. On June 26, 2009, the trial court entered an order holding its ruling in abeyance for further hearing and evidence. On July 13, 2009, the trial court denied the State’s motion, concluding that the rules do not provide for a Motion to Reconsider. On July 20, 2009, the State appealed the trial court’s May 5, 2009, dismissal of the case to this Court. Under N.D.R.App.P. 4(b), the State’s notice of appeal should have been filed no later than June 4, 2009. Recognizing a potential problem with the timeliness of the appeal, we directed the State to file a response addressing whether the appeal was timely and, if not, “whether supervision is appropriate in this case and why.” In its September 18, 2009, response, the State asserted:
Because the State filed the Motion to Reconsider, giving the court an opportunity to revisit its prior decision after the matter had been properly briefed and the interested parties were able to provide their arguments, the time for filing an appeal to the Supreme Court passed. Therefore, the State has no adequate *632alternative remedy and supervision is necessary to prevent injustice in this matter and all other cases that present with a similar factual basis that are either pending or may occur in the future.
The State essentially asserts that, because it chose to move for reconsideration and the time to timely file an appeal passed, it was then left with no adequate alternative remedy making supervision necessary to prevent an injustice. In further support, the State asserts that “supervision is necessary to prevent injustice in this matter and all other cases that present with a similar factual basis that are either pending or may occur in the future.” I am not persuaded.
[¶ 21] The standard this Court applies in deciding whether a case is appropriate for the exercise of original jurisdiction and issuance of a supervisory writ is not whether, due to tactical choices or procedural errors, the party has lost its right to bring an issue to this Court through an appeal in a particular case. Rather, the issue is whether there is an available alternative remedy to bring the issue to this Court. In this case, an adequate alternative remedy was available to the State through the appeal process. The State merely failed to properly exercise that remedy.
[¶ 22] The State does not argue that it could not have appealed from the trial court’s order dismissing the charge against Anderson. Rather, the State concedes that its attempt to appeal was untimely, and therefore, it seeks to invoke this Court’s supervisory jurisdiction. The extraordinary remedy of issuing a supervisory writ as provided for under N.D. Const, art. VI, § 2, and N.D.C.C. § 27-02-04, was not intended as a method for this Court to relieve parties of the consequences of tactical choices or procedural errors. Rather, the remedy is available to this Court only when there is no effective means of bringing an issue to this Court through an appeal or alternative means. The State’s assertion that supervision is necessary to prevent injustice in this and all other cases that present a similar factual basis and are either pending or may occur in the future is also not persuasive. If this issue arises in a pending or future case, the State need only file a timely appeal to properly bring the issue to this Court.
[¶ 23] Because I would deny the State’s petition for a supervisory writ, I dissent from the majority opinion.
[¶ 24] MARY MUEHLEN MARING