State v. Carson

128 Wash. 2d 805
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 14, 1996
DocketNo. 62512-3
StatusPublished
Cited by72 cases

This text of 128 Wash. 2d 805 (State v. Carson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Carson, 128 Wash. 2d 805 (Wash. 1996).

Opinions

Smith, J.

— Petitioner Richard Carson seeks review of an unpublished decision by the Court of Appeals, Division Three, affirming his conviction of rape in the first degree in the Superior Court of Okanogan County and a ruling by the trial court which denied Petitioner’s motion to dismiss, even though his case was not brought to trial within the 60 days required by the "speedy trial” rule, Superior Court Criminal Rule 3.3. We granted review. We affirm.

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

The questions presented in this case are: (1) whether the trial court acted properly in retroactively granting multiple five-day trial extensions under CrR 3.3, the "speedy trial” rule; and (2) whether Petitioner waived his right to a speedy trial by not objecting when his trial did not begin on the scheduled trial date and the speedy trial period expired before another trial date was set.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On January 8, 1992, Petitioner Richard Carson was charged in the Okanogan County Superior Court with rape in the first degree.1 The case came to trial before a jury on May 15, 1992.2 The jury could not agree on a verdict and the trial judge, the Honorable James R. Thomas, declared a mistrial on May 22, 1992.3 On June 4, 1992, Judge Thomas signed an order setting a new trial date for July [809]*80920, 1992.4 The court administrator advised counsel and the judge there might be a speedy trial problem with the trial date.5 The matter was discussed, but no further steps were taken.6 After discussion, Judge Thomas was under the impression the speedy trial problem had been "taken care of.”7

Petitioner Carson’s case was not brought to trial on July 20, 1992 as scheduled.8 Neither party sought a continuance and none was granted. Defense counsel, the deputy prosecuting attorney and the trial judge began trial in an unrelated case, State v. Smith, on July 21, 1992.9 That case was not completed until August 3, 1992.10

On August 3, 1992, the deputy prosecuting attorney assigned to Petitioner’s case set it for a hearing which was held that afternoon.11 The prosecutor was then of the opinion the speedy trial period began to run on June 4, 1992, and not May 22, 1992, and that it expired on August 3, 1992.12 Defense counsel at the hearing moved to dismiss because the state had not brought the case to trial within the 60 days required by CrR 3.3.13 Defense counsel stated he believed the speedy trial period began to run on the date the mistrial was declared, May 22, 1992, and expired on July 20, 1992.14 Both the prosecutor and the trial judge [810]*810then expressed their belief that the 60-day period expired on July 21, 1992.15

Defense counsel indicated he did not object to the initial trial date setting for July 20, 1992 because it was within the 60-day limit under CrR 3.3.16 He also said he had no obligation to call to the attention of counsel for the state that the speedy trial period might be running.17 Defense counsel stated, "It’s been my understanding all along that the speedy trial period commences as of the date of the mistrial.”18

The prosecutor asked the court to grant a retroactive continuance based upon unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances as allowed by CrR 3.3(d)(8).19 The prosecutor also stated that all discussions with the court administrator, Ms. Peggy Melvin, about a trial date for the case centered on Ms. Melvin’s belief that the speedy trial period expired on August 5, 1992. He argued "[Ms. Melvin] can also testify that everybody was operating under the mistaken belief that the defendant’s speedy trial ran August 5th instead of July 21st.”20 After hearing argument of counsel, the court denied Petitioner Carson’s motion to dismiss and granted retroactive five-day continuances to August 5, 1992, the date set for trial.21

On August 5, 1992, defense counsel appeared before the court near the end of the court day and moved for a continuance. He argued that he needed more time to prepare the case and to secure a witness.22 Defense counsel stated his client was willing to waive his speedy trial rights [811]*811through the middle of October 1992.23 The trial court denied the motion for continuance. Petitioner Carson’s second trial began the following morning on August 6, 1992.24

The jury found Petitioner Carson "guilty” of rape in the first degree on August 11,1992.25 The court then sentenced him to 102 months.26 The Court of Appeals, Division Three, affirmed the trial court in an unpublished opinion.27 This court granted review on May 10, 1995.

DISCUSSION

Petitioner Carson assigns error to the trial court’s denial of his motion to dismiss the case based upon a violation of the "speedy trial” rule, CrR 3.3.

Speedy Trial Expiration Date

Petitioner argues that the speedy trial period expired on July 20, 1992.28 He claims the day the trial court declared a mistrial, May 22, 1992, should be included in calculating the 60-day period for beginning a trial under CrR 3.3(d)(3).29 In making this argument, he compares CrR 3.3(c)(1) to CrR 3.3(d)(3), both of which identify 60-day periods.

CrR 3.3(c)(1) provides in relevant part "[a] defendant not released from jail pending trial shall be brought to trial not later than 60 days after the date of arraign-[812]*812merit.”30 CrR 3.3(d)(3) provides that the defendant "shall be brought to trial not later than 60 days after the oral order of the court [declaring a mistrial] if the defendant is thereafter detained in jail . . . .”31 Petitioner claims the difference in the language between the two rules is that one indicates that counting begins after the "date” of arraignment, and that the other indicates it begins after the "oral order,” thus indicating that the date of the oral order granting a mistrial is counted.32 Petitioner cites no authority for this argument. Nor is the argument logical.

CrR 3.3(d)(3) provides:
(d) Extensions of Time for Trial. The following extensions of time limits apply notwithstanding the provisions of section (c):[33]
(3) Mistrial and New Trial. If before verdict the superior court orders a mistrial, the defendant shall be brought to trial not later than 60 days after the oral order of the court if the defendant is thereafter detained in jail ....

(Emphasis added.)

"When interpreting court rules, the court approaches the rules as though they had been drafted by the Legislature. We thus apply principles of statutory construction in interpreting CrR 3.3.”34

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
128 Wash. 2d 805, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-carson-wash-1996.