People v. Harrell

Colorado Court of Appeals

People v. Harrell

759 P.2d 847, 12 Brief Times Rptr. 1010, 1988 Colo. App. LEXIS 151, 1988 WL 71261

CourtColorado Court of Appeals

DecidedJuly 7, 1988

DocketNo. 86CA1520

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 759 P.2d 847 (People v. Harrell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

People v. Harrell, 759 P.2d 847, 12 Brief Times Rptr. 1010, 1988 Colo. App. LEXIS 151, 1988 WL 71261 (Colo. Ct. App. 1988).

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Opinion

STERNBERG, Judge.

In this case, the county court dismissed a traffic prosecution, and the city sought review in the district court pursuant to C.R. C.P. 106(a)(4). The district court dismissed the action, finding that the city should have filed an appeal pursuant to Colorado Municipal Court Rule 237. The city appeals that dismissal to this court, contending that the district court should have reached the merits of its C.R.C.P. 106 action. We disagree, and affirm.

By its terms, relief under C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4) is available only when a party has “no [other] plain, speedy, and adequate remedy.” C.M.C.R. 237(b) and Crim.P. 37 provide that a prosecutor may appeal a legal error by a county court to the district court (or in Denver at the time of the dismissal here, to the superior court). See Kirbens v. Martinez, 742 P.2d 330 (Colo.1987). Because the error claimed here occurred prior to trial, double jeopardy prohibitions did not preclude the city from continuing with the prosecution if it prevailed on appeal. See People v. Fueston, 749 P.2d 952 (Colo.1988). Furthermore, the statute of limitations and the speedy trial period are tolled during the pendency of an appeal. See People v. Jamerson, 198 Colo. 92, 596 P.2d 764 (1979).

Therefore, the city’s C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4) action could not be entertained in the district court, because it had another adequate remedy: appeal. The fact that this remedy may now be unavailable is irrelevant.

Because of our disposition, we need not reach the city’s arguments with respect to the propriety of the county court’s action.

Judgment affirmed.

METZGER and HUME, JJ., concur.

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STERNBERG, Judge.

In this case, the county court dismissed a traffic prosecution, and the city sought review in the district court pursuant to C.R. C.P. 106(a)(4). The district court dismissed the action, finding that the city should have filed an appeal pursuant to Colorado Municipal Court Rule 237. The city appeals that dismissal to this court, contending that the district court should have reached the merits of its C.R.C.P. 106 action. We disagree, and affirm.

By its terms, relief under C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4) is available only when a party has “no [other] plain, speedy, and adequate remedy.” C.M.C.R. 237(b) and Crim.P. 37 provide that a prosecutor may appeal a legal error by a county court to the district court (or in Denver at the time of the dismissal here, to the superior court). See Kirbens v. Martinez, 742 P.2d 330 (Colo.1987). Because the error claimed here occurred prior to trial, double jeopardy prohibitions did not preclude the city from continuing with the prosecution if it prevailed on appeal. See People v. Fueston, 749 P.2d 952 (Colo.1988). Furthermore, the statute of limitations and the speedy trial period are tolled during the pendency of an appeal. See People v. Jamerson, 198 Colo. 92, 596 P.2d 764 (1979).

Therefore, the city’s C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4) action could not be entertained in the district court, because it had another adequate remedy: appeal. The fact that this remedy may now be unavailable is irrelevant.

Because of our disposition, we need not reach the city’s arguments with respect to the propriety of the county court’s action.

Judgment affirmed.

METZGER and HUME, JJ., concur.

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Bluebook (online)

759 P.2d 847, 12 Brief Times Rptr. 1010, 1988 Colo. App. LEXIS 151, 1988 WL 71261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-harrell-coloctapp-1988.

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