Court Opinion

ID: 5156248
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-02 02:21:18.813491+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:54:44.092558
License: Public Domain

[1] OPINION
[2] The State appeals to this Court under Rule VI of the rules of this Court from *Page 443 
an order of the District Court of Lincoln County affirming an order of the magistrate in Case No. CRF-7946 granting a motion to quash, or demurrer to the information, in that case on the ground of impermissible joinder of offenses in a single information, in violation of 22 O.S. 1971 § 404[22-404]. This holding conflicts with the previously expressed view of this Court that § 404 was repealed by implication upon enactment of 22 O.S. 1971 §§ 436[22-436] and 440 [22-440]. See Dodson v. State,562 P.2d 916 (Okla. Cr. 1977) (Brett, J., specially concurring); and Phelps v. State, 598 P.2d 254
(Okla. Cr. 1979). Appellee urges the reexamination of the Dodson
holding by comparing 22 O.S. 1971 §§ 436[22-436] et seq. to similar federal rules of criminal procedure. However, we are not persuaded that the Dodson rule should be re-examined. We reaffirm the view expressed therein. The rulings of the trial court and magistrate were in error.
[3] Moreover, the proper method for challenging alleged prejudicial joinder under § 436 and Dodson is by application under 22 O.S. 1971 § 439[22-439], rather than demurrer. Other arguments urged by appellee in support of the orders seem predicated on a characterization of the magistrate's action as a severance due to prejudicial joinder. However, due to the lower courts' reliance on § 404 in violation of Dodson, and due to the treatment of the issue in those courts as a Rule VI challenge to the granting of a demurrer or motion to quash the information, we will also deal with the case in that posture, and remand without prejudice to a proper application for relief from prejudicial joinder. The magistrate or trial court may then consider the issue apart from an erroneous reliance on Section 404.
[4] BRETT, P.J., and CORNISH, J., concur.