Court Opinion

ID: 9578746
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:48:01.413453+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:22.554677
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The record shows that a complaint was filed in the juvenile court on March 22 by the police officer who took the child into custody, detailing the offense of March 20. OCGA § 15-11-17 (a) (2) or (3). The child was detained at the child treatment center.
The next day, March 23, a pre-petition detention hearing pursuant to OCGA § 15-11-21 (c) (1) was held and the court found that probable cause existed to suspect that the child had committed murder and violated probation. The court recommended that a petition issue and that the child continue to be detained because it found present the first two conditions of the four alternative conditions authorized by OCGA § 15-11-18. The public defender, who represented the child at the hearing, was appointed to continue.
A petition alleging murder (OCGA § 16-5-1) and probation violation (OCGA § 15-11-42 (b)) was filed on March 24, pursuant to OCGA §§ 15-11-23 to 15-11-25. On that date also, copy of the summons and process and service of the same was filed, showing that a hearing was set by the court on March 23, to be held on March 30. The summons required the child and his mother to appear “to make defense” to the petition and “to show cause why the said child . . . should not be dealt with according to the provisions of the law.” It expressly required them “to be present at a formal hearing in the Juvenile Court” and to remain in attendance as the case “may be continued, and until discharged by the court.” This conformed to OCGA § 15-11-26 (a) and (b). At the same time, the child and his mother were served with notice that before the hearing on the merits of the petition, and at the same time and place designated for the hearing noticed in the summons, the court would consider transfer to the adult criminal court, as authorized under OCGA § 15-11-39. The hearing referred to was the adjudication hearing because it notified the parent and child to be prepared to “make defense” and “show cause,” as stated above.
The court did hold a hearing on March 30 but did not reach the merits of the petition. From the tenor of what transpired, it appears that by the time the hearing actually commenced, neither side expected to reach adjudication that day. The court considered a motion by the local newspaper for access to the proceedings and ruled that they would be open except for any dispositional hearing, for which *274the movant would have to make another request. The public defender announced that he was “ready to proceed with arraignment” even though this type optional formal hearing had not been set in motion as contemplated by UJCR 10. The State asked for a continuance of the hearing to garner additional information so it could decide whether to seek a transfer to the superior court. The child’s attorney objected. A constitutional issue with respect to OCGA § 15-11-21 (c) (1), raised by the child’s attorney regarding the timeliness of the probable cause hearing, was aired. The court rejected the challenge and ruled that “the child will be detained pending further hearings.” The court refused to set a bond because of the seriousness of the offense and the child’s prior record. It acceded to the State’s request for a continuance of the proceeding and set it for May 6. There was no objection to the continuance.
On May 6 the question of transfer was considered, and the court ruled that the child would be tried as a juvenile, in that court. The adjudicatory hearing transpired on June 25, the court found the child to be delinquent as alleged, and disposition was made on July 2.
Appellant has styled the hearing of March 30 as an “arraignment hearing” as contemplated by UJCR 10.1 et seq. He contends that such is insufficient to satisfy the mandate of OCGA § 15-11-26 (a), which as interpreted by the appellate courts requires that within ten days of the petition’s filing, the court must set an adjudicatory hearing. It is true that such a hearing must be set. Sanchez v. Walker County Dept. of Family &c. Svcs., 237 Ga. 406 (229 SE2d 66) (1976); J. T. G. v. State of Ga., 141 Ga. App. 184 (233 SE2d 40) (1977); Johnson v. State, 183 Ga. App. 168 (2) (358 SE2d 313) (1987).
In this case, there was no optional arraignment hearing of the nature and purpose contemplated by UJCR 10.1. That is not what was set by the summons or by the notice. The hearing that was set “not . . . later than ten days,” as required by OCGA § 15-11-26 (a), was the adjudicatory hearing. This the court recognized in denying appellant’s motion to dismiss the petition, which motion had urged this ground. The summons supports the court’s ruling. The formal order of continuance, entered pursuant to OCGA § 15-11-28 (a), refers to “Arraignment” hearing in a typed-in space on the form. However, the transcript of that hearing, the court’s ruling on appellant’s motion to dismiss, and the wording of the summons, all demonstrate that the characterization was a misnomer. No arraignment occurred.
Not only was hearing on the petition set within ten days, it was commenced within ten days and one preliminary matter was decided and another postponed. It is not required that the adjudicatory hearing be held within ten days. Johnson, supra at 169, and cases cited therein. The statute requires only that hearing on the petition be set to be held within ten days after the petition is filed. As noted in *275Johnson, “a continuance may be granted in the sound discretion of the trial court.” See also In re J. B., 183 Ga. App. 229 (2) (358 SE2d 620) (1987); In the Interest of L. T. W., 211 Ga. App. 441 (1) (439 SE2d 716) (1993); UJCR 11.3.
Decided June 22, 1994
Reconsideration denied July 29, 1994
Mark R. Pollard, for appellant.
Lewis R. Slaton, District Attorney, Sally A. Butler, Carl P. Greenberg, Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.
That is precisely what transpired here, and it is no wonder. It would be extraordinary for a case of the magnitude of murder to be readied for trial within ten days of the filing of the petition. In fact, the hearing began on the tenth day after the offense. As in L. T. W., supra, “hearing dates were not only fixed within ten days of the filing of the petitions, but the hearings themselves were to be held within that time frame.” To meet the requirements of OCGA § 15-11-26 (a), it was not necessary to actually hold the adjudicatory hearing within ten days; proper continuances may be, and were, granted.
The court dealt with this case expeditiously and within the requirements of the law. The continuances did not constitute an abuse of discretion, considering that the wisdom of transfer was one of the preliminary questions. See OCGA § 15-11-39.
Inasmuch as there was no error in this regard, and the other alleged error was not one, the judgment of the juvenile court should be affirmed.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Pope joins in this dissent.