Court Opinion

ID: 9775878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:11:46.91843+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:31.795429
License: Public Domain

COMBS, Justice,
dissenting.
With all respect for the majority’s view and its skill of expression, I dissent, and would affirm the order of the Jefferson Circuit Court. The effect of this opinion is to give unwarranted authority to the prosecuting attorney to dictate the terms of pleas, in derogation of the roles of the trial court and defense counsel.
Implicit in the majority opinion is the statement that the trial court lacks the power to do what it proposed. But RCr 8.10 provides that “at any time before judgment the court may permit the pleas of guilty or guilty but mentally ill, to be withdrawn and a plea of not guilty substituted.” Moreover, the General Assembly has given the trial court the final say as to sentencing, within limits not here exceeded. I see no prohibition against the trial court exercising its legitimate power at this stage of the proceeding.
The majority has apparently overlooked a feature of the case that seemed to be very important to Judge Corey. That is, the management of his trial docket. It is a legal truism that “justice delayed is justice denied.” Judge Corey foresaw a lengthy and expensive trial consuming many months, which would delay the trial of many other important cases on his docket.
The Commonwealth is not prejudiced by this procedure. If the stated terms are not complied with, then a jury trial would be held. How many convictions in the Jefferson Circuit Court involving crimes more heinous than this have resulted in verdicts less severe than those set forth in the order? On the other hand, death row is already overcrowded. The failure of the executive to carry out jury mandates will probably soon necessitate building another facility just to hold inmates awaiting execution.
True, the trial court took a novel approach to a very difficult problem, but should we not be ever aware of ways and means by which to improve and expedite the process?
LEIBSON and SPAIN, JJ., join in this dissenting opinion.