Court Opinion

ID: 9737861
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:36:04.973524+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:38:05.468246
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
The majority opinion seems to overlook and ignore the settled authority of this state. In making what is, in reality, a de novo review of the trial court, it relies exclusively on State v. Hoffman, 409 N.W.2d 373 (S.D.1987).
In State v. Kerkhove, 423 N.W.2d 160, 164 (S.D.1988), we specifically held that we review a lower court’s findings in “180-day rule” cases to determine whether they are clearly erroneous (citing Estate of Hobelsberger, 85 S.D. 282, 181 N.W.2d 455 (1970)). See also State v. Cooper, 421 N.W.2d 67 (S.D.1988).
*892I in no manner approve of or condone the action of the magistrate court in re-scheduling the preliminary hearing some 70 days. It surely seems to be an “unfortunate and ineffective scheduling practice.” (See my dissent in Hoffman, supra.) Nonetheless, in reviewing the findings of the magistrate and circuit courts, I do not find them to be clearly erroneous. As Justice Sabers points out, there was only a three-day delay beyond the 180 days. In Kerkhove, supra, a murder case, we upheld a delay of approximately three weeks. The State made a timely motion for an extension and there was no prejudice present, or even asserted by defendant. I would therefore affirm.*

 One must ponder whether the majority would come to the same conclusion if this were a murder case rather than one dealing with DUI.