State Ex Rel. Suttle v. District Court of Jackson County

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma

State Ex Rel. Suttle v. District Court of Jackson County

1990 OK CR 32, 795 P.2d 525, 1990 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 44, 1990 WL 94910

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma·Decided May 15, 1990·No. P-90-0244·Published·Cited by 3 cases

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[526]*526ORDER DENYING WRIT OF PROHIBITION

On March 8, 1990, petitioner, Steven S. Suttle, District Attorney for the Third Judicial District, State of Oklahoma and for Jackson County, filed a pleading with this Court asking for extraordinary relief. The state requested that this Court grant a writ prohibiting the Jackson County District Court from examining the State’s file in State of Oklahoma v. George Wayne Loftis, Case No. CRF-89-223, Jackson County. On February 27, 1990, the district court sua sponte ordered the district attorney to furnish its entire file for inspection by the court as to what, if any, exculpatory information it contains. On March 15, 1990, we stayed the proceedings and ordered a response from the District Court of Jackson County which it timely filed.

The petitioner contends that the district court abused its discretion by so ordering the inspection of the file because the defendant would not have a right to examine the file himself. Whether the defendant would have a right to examine the prosecution’s file is not dispositive of this matter as petitioner has failed to show any authority that states the court cannot order an inspection of the file on its own as is required by Rule 10.6(A), Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, 22 O.S.Supp. 1989, Ch. 18 App. Furthermore, defense counsel’s motion for discovery of all evidence favorable to the defendant was sustained by the trial court. While the proper procedure would be for defense counsel to file a motion requesting such a review of the State’s file, in this case, we do not find that the trial court abused his discretion.

IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER OF THIS COURT that the writ of prohibition be denied in as the petitioner has failed to demonstrate any abuse of discretion on the part of the Jackson County District Court.

IT IS THE FURTHER ORDER OF THIS COURT that the order of this Court staying any further proceedings in State of Oklahoma v. George Wayne Loftis, Case No. CRF-89-223, is lifted, vacated and set aside as of the date of this order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Ed Parks ED PARKS Presiding Judge

/s/ James F. Lane JAMES F. LANE Vice Presiding Judge

/s/ Tom Brett TOM BRETT Judge

/s/ Charles A. Johnson CHARLES A. JOHNSON Judge

LUMPKIN, J., concurs in result.

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[526]*526ORDER DENYING WRIT OF PROHIBITION

On March 8, 1990, petitioner, Steven S. Suttle, District Attorney for the Third Judicial District, State of Oklahoma and for Jackson County, filed a pleading with this Court asking for extraordinary relief. The state requested that this Court grant a writ prohibiting the Jackson County District Court from examining the State’s file in State of Oklahoma v. George Wayne Loftis, Case No. CRF-89-223, Jackson County. On February 27, 1990, the district court sua sponte ordered the district attorney to furnish its entire file for inspection by the court as to what, if any, exculpatory information it contains. On March 15, 1990, we stayed the proceedings and ordered a response from the District Court of Jackson County which it timely filed.

The petitioner contends that the district court abused its discretion by so ordering the inspection of the file because the defendant would not have a right to examine the file himself. Whether the defendant would have a right to examine the prosecution’s file is not dispositive of this matter as petitioner has failed to show any authority that states the court cannot order an inspection of the file on its own as is required by Rule 10.6(A), Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, 22 O.S.Supp. 1989, Ch. 18 App. Furthermore, defense counsel’s motion for discovery of all evidence favorable to the defendant was sustained by the trial court. While the proper procedure would be for defense counsel to file a motion requesting such a review of the State’s file, in this case, we do not find that the trial court abused his discretion.

IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER OF THIS COURT that the writ of prohibition be denied in as the petitioner has failed to demonstrate any abuse of discretion on the part of the Jackson County District Court.

IT IS THE FURTHER ORDER OF THIS COURT that the order of this Court staying any further proceedings in State of Oklahoma v. George Wayne Loftis, Case No. CRF-89-223, is lifted, vacated and set aside as of the date of this order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Ed Parks ED PARKS Presiding Judge

/s/ James F. Lane JAMES F. LANE Vice Presiding Judge

/s/ Tom Brett TOM BRETT Judge

/s/ Charles A. Johnson CHARLES A. JOHNSON Judge

LUMPKIN, J., concurs in result.

State Ex Rel. Suttle v. District Court of Jackson County, 1990 OK CR 32, 795 P.2d 525, 1990 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 44, 1990 WL 94910 (Okla. Ct. App. 1990).

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