State v. Davis

637 S.W.2d 471, 1982 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 447
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedMay 13, 1982
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 637 S.W.2d 471 (State v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Davis, 637 S.W.2d 471, 1982 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 447 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION

TATUM, Judge.

The appellants, Ronnie William Davis and Frederick William Brist were indicted for second-degree burglary. At the conclusion of the proof, the trial court directed the jury to return a verdict of guilt as to both appellants and submitted to the jury only the issue of punishment. The jury set punishment at not more nor less than 3 years in the penitentiary for each appellant. On this appeal, the appellants correctly state that the trial court erred in directing a verdict of guilt. They also make issues concerning the juvenile court procedure. We sustain the issue concerning the directed verdict and find that the procedure employed in juvenile court placed the appellants in double jeopardy.

The evidence of the guilt of both appellants is conclusive. State’s witnesses testified that the 17-year old appellants were apprehended while burglarizing the mobile home of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dixon at approximately 10:30 A.M., on September 22, 1980. Although both appellants had pled not guilty, they testified and admitted their guilt at trial. Based on this evidence, the trial judge, on his own motion, directed the jury to find the appellants guilty of second-degree burglary and to fix their punishment.

In directing a verdict of guilt, the trial judge violated the appellants’ rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution and under Sections 6, 8, and 9 of Article I of the Tennessee Constitution. Though the proof of the appellants’ guilt was conclusive, the issue of guilt should have been submitted to the jury on their pleas of not guilty. In directing the verdict of guilt, the appellants were deprived of their fundamental constitutional right to a jury trial. In United Brotherhood v. United States, 330 U.S. 395, 67 S.Ct. 775, 91 L.Ed. 973 (1947), the United States Supreme Court reiterated that in criminal cases “a judge may not direct a verdict of guilty no matter how conclusive the evidence.” For like holdings see Sandstrom v. Montana, 442 U.S. 510, 99 S.Ct. 2450, 61 L.Ed.2d 39 (1979); United States v. Martin Linen Supply Company, 430 U.S. 564, 97 S.Ct. 1349, 51 L.Ed.2d 642 (1977); Sparf v. United States, 156 U.S. 51,15 S.Ct. 273, 39 L.Ed. 343 (1895). This error cannot be held “harmless.” See Bollenbach v. United States, 326 U.S. 607, 66 S.Ct. 402, 90 L.Ed. 350 (1946).

Rule 29, T.R.Cr.P. permits a trial judge to order the entry of a judgment of acquittal when the evidence is insufficient as a matter of law to support a conviction. Overturf v. State, 571 S.W.2d 837 (Tenn.1978). Rule 23, T.R.Cr.P. requires that in all criminal cases except small offenses, trials shall be by jury unless waived by the defendant. There is no provision in this state or any other jurisdiction for the trial judge to order a verdict of conviction. This procedure is repugnant to the constitutional concept of criminal jurisprudence.

The appellants next insist that their trial in Circuit Court constituted double jeopardy since jeopardy had attached at the proceeding in Juvenile Court.

These cases were initiated in Juvenile Court by “summons.” The summons directed the appearance of the appellants and their parents before the Juvenile Court of Hardeman County at a specified time for the following purposes:

“_to answer the charge of the petition, a copy of which accompanies this summons.
You are further notified that the court before hearing the petition on its merits may transfer said child to the sheriff of Hardeman County to be held according to law and to be dealt with as an adult as provided in the Criminal Laws of Tennessee.”

As we understand the summons, the appellants were given notice to answer the [473]*473charge on its merits. They were also notified that a transfer hearing “may” be had pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-234.

The transcript of the proceeding in Juvenile Court was not preserved. This leaves us with little, other than the pleadings and orders entered by the court, to determine what actually happened in Juvenile Court. In examining the orders or judgments of the court, we find that two identical judgments were rendered against each defendant. The first judgments are as follows:

“This cause came on to be heard upon a sworn petition, and the proper parties being then before the Court, and having examined the witnesses, considered the evidence, and being sufficiently advised, the Court finds that said child was 17 years or more of age at the time of the alleged conduct and that there are reasonable grounds to believe that:
1. Said child did on or about Sept. 22nd, 1980, in Hardeman County, Tennessee commit the delinquent act alleged, to wit, Broke in the home of Wynne Dixon. Color T.V., shotgun and other items were taken. Formal charge is Burglary
2. Said child is not committable to an institution for the mentally retarded or mentally ill.
3. The interests of the community require that said child be placed under legal restraint or discipline.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that said child be and is hereby transferred to the Sheriff of Hardeman County to be held according to law and to be dealt with for the alleged offense as provided in the criminal laws of Tennessee.”
The second judgments are as follows: “This cause came on to be heard upon the sworn petition of Wayne Watkins-H.C. S.D. and the proper parties being then before the Court, and having examined the witness and considered the evidence and being sufficiently advised the Court holds that the child is a delinquent child, within the meaning of the law of the State of Tennessee in that said child admitted to the charge in the petition during the prehearing conference. Formal charge in the petition is Burglary. (Emphasis supplied)
It is therefore ordered that: Youth be transferred to the Circuit Court of Hardeman County to be dealt with as an adult. Court cost of $17.50 is to be paid. The original bond of $250.00 is continued.”

As above stated, the summons gave notice for both a disposition trial under T.C.A. §§ 37-223 — 37-229 and also for a transfer hearing as allowed by T.C.A. § 37-234. The first judgments quoted above make a finding of “reasonable grounds to believe” without a finding of guilt. The first judgments conform with transfer hearings as provided in T.C.A. § 37-234. If these were the only judgments entered, we would have no hesitancy in saying that double jeopardy did not attach in either case.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
637 S.W.2d 471, 1982 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 447, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-davis-tenncrimapp-1982.