Court Opinion

ID: 9627627
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:48:51.80602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:47.898489
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice,
dissenting:
I regret that I must dissent. I believe that although the majority opinion is well reasoned and thoughtful, the result is incorrect. Even though this opinion does not involve a plea agreement, the result of the majority opinion is that a defendant and a prosecuting attorney may agree to an unlawfully lenient sentence that becomes final if the trial judge fails to correct it and if the state fails to appeal.
A.R.S. § 13-4035 reads:
A. Upon appeal from a final judgment of conviction, the supreme court shall review all rulings affecting the judgment, even though a motion for a new trial was not made. If a motion for a new trial was made and denied, the court shall, on appeal from the judgment, review the action of the court below in denying a new trial. Upon appeal from an order denying a motion for a new trial or for arrest of judgment the court shall review all orders and rulings made at or before the trial, or which affect the order appealed from.
B. Upon an appeal taken by a defendant from the judgment, the supreme court shall review the entire record. A.R.S. § 13-4036 reads:
The supreme court may reverse, affirm or modify the judgment appealed from, and may grant a new trial or render any judgment or make any order which is consistent with the justice and the rights of the state and the defendant. On an appeal from an order made after judgment, it may set aside, affirm or modify the order or any proceeding subsequent to or dependent upon such order.
I believe an illegal sentence is fundamental error. I would, therefore, hold that these two statutes, A.R.S. §§ 13-4035 and 13-4036, give this Court jurisdiction to correct fundamental error even though not raised by either party. I would set aside the illegal sentence and order the trial court to resentence the defendant.