Court Opinion

ID: 9579113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:51:32.04417+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:34:18.022820
License: Public Domain

SCHROEDER, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent from the portion of the opinion which determines that the judgment of conviction must be reinstated. This case should be remanded to the district court with an opportunity to make additional findings on those matters of concern to this Court so this Court may determine the case based upon adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law and the correct legal analysis. As it is, even though there may be a sound legal basis for the district court granting a new trial, the district court is deprived of the opportunity to do so because of inadequacy of the findings and apparent application of an improper legal standard. These flaws do not mean there is not a proper basis to grant Mr. Whiteley relief.
This case begs a decision based upon adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon proper legal analysis. A witness who had critical evidence concerning the events involved was not called to testify. The alleged victim deprived the district court of the opportunity to judge whether there was evidence from her that would change the result of the trial. Clearly, the district court is in the best position to determine if there has been a fair trial. The district court concluded that the results of the trial could not be relied upon. The prison doors should not be slammed on Mr. Whiteley for twelve to twenty-five years because this Court has determined that the district court’s articulation of reasons to grant a new trial was not sufficient. A remand for more complete findings of fact and conclusions of law applying the proper legal standard would provide this Court with a basis to determine if the order for a new trial should be affirmed or reversed.
It takes very little knowledge of Idaho’s legal history to understand that few post-conviction relief petitions are granted; few new trials are granted to defendants in criminal cases. When the conscience of a district judge is sufficiently troubled by the proceedings that have taken place to warrant such action, this Court should give every opportunity to that court to set forth the reasons adequately for a decision that can be accepted as fair rather than one arrived through procedural failure. This case should be remanded for additional findings of fact and conclusions of law in light of this Court’s concerns, not reversed.