Court Opinion

ID: 9822122
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 08:47:46.108263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:14:14.082305
License: Public Domain

SANDSTROM, Justice,
dissenting.
[¶ 24] I respectfully dissent.
[¶ 25] The majority opinion’s statute of limitations analysis is contrary to the plain and unambiguous words of- the statute:
Except as provided in subsection 3, an application for relief under this chapter must be filed within two years of the date the conviction becomes final. A conviction becomes final for purposes of this chapter when:
a. The time for appeal of the conviction to the North Dakota supreme court expires;
b. If an appeal was taken to the North Dakota supreme court, the time for petitioning the United States supreme court for review expires; or
c. If review was sought in the United States supreme court, the date the supreme court issues a final order in the case.
N.D.C.C, § 29-32.1-01(2) (emphasis added).
[¶ 26] Post-conviction relief must be filed within two years of the conviction becoming final. Although probation revocation in some circumstances might be raised under the statute, it must be within two years of the conviction becoming final. Our cases make clear that probation revocation is not conviction. E.g., State v. Wetzel, 2011 ND 218, ¶ 8, 806 N.W.2d 193; State v. Hemmes, 2007 ND 161, 740 N.W.2d 81; State v. Hass, 268 N.W.2d 456 (N.D.1978).
[¶27] The statute is a post-conviction relief statute, not a post-probation-revocation statute. A defendant may directly appeal probation revocation. He may not collaterally attack probation beyond two years after the conviction became final.
[¶ 28] “When the wording of a statute is clear and free of all ambiguity, the letter of it.is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.” N.D.C.C. § 1-02-05. Here the majority’s disregard of the plain wording of the statute is also contrary to the spirit of the provision enacted by the 2013 legislative assembly. See S.B. 2227.
*9[¶ 29] I would affirm.
[IT 30] DALE V. SANDSTROM