Court Opinion

ID: 9760627
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:05:52.758362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:15.179867
License: Public Domain

GOLDEN, Justice,
specially concurring.
[¶ 55] This opinion encompasses three consolidated appeals before this Court. I believe that each appeal should be affirmed. I write separately because the majority opin*1010ion fails to distinguish between the three appeals. This failure results in an improper analysis.
[T56]) The three appeals must be treated separately, with a focus on the issues appropriate to each appeal.3 I note that this is difficult because Lawson's appellate brief does not treat the appeals separately. He fails to set forth specific issues for each appeal. He then provides only one analysis without identifying to which appeal it applies. Because the majority opinion has accepted Lawson's brief for consideration, I will also do so. It is not my intent to engage in what I believe is the appropriate analysis on the merits. My purpose is simply to lay out what I consider to be the proper approach to deciding these appeals.
[¶ 57] As stated, each appeal must be addressed separately. Appeal No. S-09-0061 is an appeal from the Judgment and Sentence of the district court filed on February 6, 2009. After reviewing Lawson's brief, I find no argument presented that applies to the trial or other proceedings underlying that Judgment and Sentence. I would therefore summarily affirm Appeal No. S-09-0061.
[158] Appeal No. S-09-0209 arises from Lawson's Motion for New Trial that was filed on June 15, 2009. As stated in the majority opinion, generally Lawson complained of certain exculpatory and impeachment evidence the State did not disclose before or during trial, as well as allegedly false testimony solicited by the prosecutor during trial. In his appellate brief, Lawson presents argument that numerous Brady violations occurred (as further explained in the majority opinion). Lawson also presents argument regarding the alleged prosecutorial misconduct in soliciting false testimony. A review of Lawson's appellate brief, therefore, reveals that his argument is directly related to the district court's denial of this motion for a new trial.4 As such, this Court is required to engage in an analysis of the proceedings underlying that denial. The proceedings included a full evidentiary hearing on Lawson's motion, after which the district court found that no Brady violation had occurred and also that the prosecutor had not solicited false testimony. The review by this Court should be of the district court's findings using the appropriate standards of review.5
[¶ 59] Turning to Appeal No. S-10-0001, this appeal is from an order denying a second new trial motion that was entered on September 30, 2009. Lawson based his underlying motion on an alleged new Brady violation by the State. The district court held a full evidentiary hearing, after which it held that the newly discovered evidence brought to its attention did not meet the materiality or exculpatory requirements of Brady. Lawson's appellate brief addresses the newly discovered evidence that was at issue at this hearing. Therefore, there is at least one issue to be analyzed within the context of this appeal.
[T 60] If each appeal were analyzed independently as I believe should be done, the analysis would be considerably different. Most importantly, different standards of review would be applied. However, in the end, I am convinced by my own review that the ultimate result reached in the majority opinion is correct.

. Consolidation of the appeals in this instance was done for the purpose of judicial economy. Consolidation does not change the independent nature of each appeal. See generally 5 C.J.S. Appeal and Error § 784 (2007).

. The majority opinion analyzes the prosecutorial misconduct allegation as a trial error. I applies a plain error standard of review to this claim because the testimony allegedly elicited by the prosecutor was not objected to at trial. Logically, Lawson could not have objected to the testimony at trial since he did not know it was false until he received the belated disclosure of the plea agreement materials from the State. Thus, the issue lies firmly within Appeal No. S-09-0209 and not Appeal No. S-09-0061.

. - In general, the standard of review on a motion for new trial is an abuse of discretion. However, as the majority opinion points out, an alleged Brady violation is reviewed de novo. Davis v. State, 2002 WY 88, ¶ 16, 47 P.3d 981, 985-86 (Wyo.2002); Lacey v. State, 803 P.2d 1364, 1368-69 (Wyo.1990).