Court Opinion

ID: 9853737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:53:20.748301+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:03.529834
License: Public Domain

Dolliver, J.
(dissenting) — Without a further record, we may speculate endlessly as to the meaning to be attached to certain words and phrases contained in the preliminary order signed by the trial judge at the end of petitioner's hearing in juvenile court. We may continue this speculation as to what actually occurred at the hearing. None of this is of value in deciding this case. The trial court did, however, clearly, legibly and specifically state on the face of the order "Jurisdiction declined". Once these words had been written and the court's signature appended everything else became without force.
However inelegantly it may have been done, the trial court did decline jurisdiction. Once this was done, no jeopardy attached. I would deny the petition.
Wright, C.J. (concurring in the dissent) — I concur in the view of Mr. Justice Dolliver. The words "Jurisdiction declined" were controlling and terminated the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Anything else said was a nullity as the juvenile court was thereafter without jurisdiction.
It is fundamental that jeopardy cannot attach except by virtue of proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction. We said in State v. Williams, 57 Wn.2d 231, 356 P.2d 99 (1960), at page 232:
*77In order for a plea of double jeopardy to be invoked, it is incumbent upon a defendant to show that he has been previously placed on trial before a court of competent jurisdiction upon an indictment or information for the same offense.
(Italics mine.)
Without in anywise expressing any criticism of the trial judge, I would suggest it is better practice to form the order differently than was done here. After a decline of jurisdiction, the attaching of conditions, if any, should be left to the action of the superior court, for the reasons stated herein.