State v. Givhan

616 S.W.2d 612, 1981 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 335

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: January 22, 1981
• Docket: 8
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

DWYER, Judge.

The appellant was convicted by a jury on March 18, 1980, in the Criminal Courts of Shelby County for committing the offense of aggravated rape with confinement in the State Penitentiary for 15 years; robbery with a deadly weapon, confinement for 10 years; and burglary in the first degree, with confinement at not less than 5 nor more than 10 years. Judgment was imposed by the trial court promptly after the return of the verdicts on that date.

The appellant did not file his written motion for new trial until a paper writing styled Amended Motion for New Trial was filed on April 22, 1980, which was 35 days after entry of the verdicts.

With reliance on Massey v. State, 592 S.W.2d 333 (Tenn.Cr.App.1979), the State urges that Tenn.R.Crim.P. 33 (b) preempts this court of jurisdiction and the appeal should be dismissed. The appellant contends that the failure to file a timely written motion for a new trial was waived by the State’s attorney at the trial level, with the acquiescence of the trial judge. We disagree. In State v. Reece, released at Knoxville October 27, 1980, a similar contention as the appellant’s was rejected by this court when Judge Tatum, writing for the court, had this to say:

“... As stated, the time requirement of Rule 33(b) is mandatory and jurisdictional. The trial court has no jurisdiction to extend the time requirement of the Rule, and neither does this court. The District Attorney General likewise is not empowered to extend this time requirement by express waiver or by failure to object when the trial judge attempts to do so. If the motion for a new trial is not filed within the time required, the trial judge loses jurisdiction, and the judgment on the jury verdict becomes final.” Massey v. State, supra.

We are in accord with our colleague Judge Tatum. However, we think Massey v. State and State v. Reece, supra, may need some elaboration. While agreeing basically with those authorities we disagree with the holding that failure to follow the mandate of Tenn.R.Crim.P. 33(b) preempts this court of jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of this court attaches with the filing of the notice of appeal. Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure 3(e), 4(a). For example, once the trial jury returns a verdict, the appellant has 30 days from that verdict to file his written motion for a new trial regardless of when the judgment was entered. Tenn.R. Crim.P. 33(b). This is mandatory and failure to do so not only results in the appellant losing his right to have a hearing on the motion for new trial but also deprives him of any opportunity to argue on appeal the issues that should have been presented in the motion for new trial. T.R.A.P. 3(e). It does not divest this court of jurisdiction for that is secured by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days from the date of judgment, T.R.A.P. 4(a), or if appellant timely filed his motion for new trial, within 30 days from the entry of the order denying the motion for a new trial. T.R.A.P. 4(c). In the case sub judice the judgment was entered when the verdict was returned on March 18,1980. With no written motion for new trial being filed within 30 days from verdict, appellant lost his right to argue this motion since Tenn.R.Crim.P. 33(b) is mandatory. Likewise, with no written motion for new trial suspending the judgment, that judgment became final 30 days later, and appellant’s failure to timely file the notice of appeal within that framework divests this court of jurisdiction. T.R.A.P. 4(a). Accordingly, the State’s motion to dismiss is sustained. The appeal is dismissed.

DAUGHTREY and BYERS, JJ., concur.