Court Opinion

ID: 4295573
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-19 07:12:14.434795+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:28.361392
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                       ATLANTA,____________________
                                                July 18, 2018

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A18A1921. LUCIOUS L. JOHNSON v. THE STATE.

      Lucious Johnson was convicted of aggravated assault, rape, and false
imprisonment, and we affirmed his convictions on appeal. Johnson v. State, 238 Ga.
App. 677 (520 SE2d 221) (1999). Johnson later filed a motion to vacate a void
sentence and an extraordinary motion for new trial. The trial court merged two of his
convictions and vacated his sentence as to one count but otherwise denied the
motions, and we again affirmed on appeal. Johnson v. State, 272 Ga. App. 294 (612
SE2d 29) (2005). Johnson then filed another motion to vacate a void sentence. The
trial court denied the motion, and once more we affirmed, this time in an unpublished
opinion. Johnson v. State, Case No. A13A1411 (affirmed July 16, 2013). Johnson
subsequently filed additional pro se motions, including a motion for an out-of-time
appeal and a motion for relief from convictions due to actual innocence. The trial
court denied the motions on the ground that its prior orders were “res judicata as to
these matters.” Johnson filed an application for discretionary appeal from this order,
which we dismissed, specifically noting that Johnson was not entitled to an out-of-
time appeal and that a petition to vacate or modify a judgment of conviction is not an
appropriate remedy in a criminal case. Johnson v. State, Case No. A15D0225
(dismissed February 2, 2015). Johnson also filed a direct appeal from that trial court
order, which this Court dismissed. Johnson v. State, Case No. A15A1214 (dismissed
April 8, 2015).
      Back in the trial court, Johnson filed new pro se motions, including a “Motion
for Evidentiary Hearing to Demonstrate Actual Innocence, “Motion for Declaratory
Judgment,” “Motion for Appointment of Counsel,” and “Motion to Set-Aside and Re-
Enter Judgment.” The trial court denied the motions in a single order on the ground
that its prior orders were “res judicata as to these matters.” Johnson then filed this
direct appeal.1 We, however, lack jurisdiction.
      To the extent that Johnson seeks to set aside his convictions in his “Motion for
Evidentiary Hearing to Demonstrate Actual Innocence” and “Motion for Appointment
of Counsel” for the evidentiary hearing, we reiterate that the Supreme Court has made
clear that “a petition to vacate or modify a judgment of conviction is not an
appropriate remedy in a criminal case.” Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 218 (1) (686
SE2d 786) (2009). Further, any appeal from an order denying such a motion must be
dismissed. See id. at 218 (2); see also Roberts v. State, 286 Ga. 532, 532 (690 SE2d
150) (2010). In these motions, Johnson again seeks to have his convictions set aside
and counsel for a hearing on his motion to have his convictions set aside. Johnson
is not authorized to collaterally attack his convictions in this manner and the trial
court is not authorized to set his convictions aside. See State v. Green, 308 Ga. App.
33, 34-35 (1) (706 SE2d 720) (2011) (reversing grant of defendant’s motion to vacate
conviction because motion “should have been dismissed”).
      As for Johnson’s “Motion for Declaratory Judgment,” the denial of this motion
is moot. An appeal of an issue that has become moot is subject to dismissal. See
OCGA § 5-6-48 (b) (3). “An appeal becomes moot if the rights insisted upon could
not be enforced by a judicial determination.” Randolph County v. Johnson, 282 Ga.
160, 160 (1) (646 SE2d 261) (2007). Here, Johnson has no right to file a declaratory
judgment action because “a suit for declaratory judgment cannot be maintained by a
person accused of [a] crime where the alleged criminal conduct has already taken
place.” Ross v. State, 238 Ga. 445, 445 (233 SE2d 381) (1977). Thus, any ruling by
this Court would have no practical effect. Accordingly, Johnson’s appeal of the
denial of his declaratory judgment motion is moot and subject to dismissal.
      Finally, the denial of Johnson’s one-page “Motion to Set-Aside and Re-Enter

      1
       Johnson filed his appeal in the Supreme Court, which transferred the case to
this Court. See Case No. S18A1041 (transferred May 7, 2018).
Judgment” is also moot. In his motion, Johnson sought to set aside and reenter orders
on his motions pending before the trial court. It appears that Johnson filed this
motion because he had not received any orders on his pending motions and was
unsure whether the trial court had in fact ruled on the motions. However, the orders
Johnson sought to set aside and reenter were orders that were not yet rendered or
entered. The trial court ruled on the motions and that order is the subject of this
appeal. Thus, the denial of this motion is moot and subject to dismissal. See Dean
v. City of Jesup, 249 Ga. App. 623, 624 (2) (549 SE2d 466) (2001) (If “reversal of a
trial court’s judgment is of no practical benefit to the parties, any issues raised on
appeal are rendered moot.”)
      For these reasons, this appeal is hereby DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.

                                       Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                              Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                        07/18/2018
                                              I certify that the above is a true extract from
                                       the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
                                              Witness my signature and the seal of said court
                                       hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

                                                                                       , Clerk.