State v. Johnston

Supreme Court of Louisiana

State v. Johnston

376 So. 2d 1236, 1979 La. LEXIS 7155

Supreme Court of Louisiana·Decided October 19, 1979·No. No. 65877·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

The writ application is granted in part, denied in part. Judge’s order dismissing the charges is vacated. The judge of the Twelfth Judicial District Court exceeded his powers in ordering the charges against the defendant dismissed. When the court in a preliminary examination finds that the defendant is being held without probable cause the court shall order that the defendant be released from custody or bail. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 296. The court may not order the charges dismissed; this power belongs to the district attorney. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 691, State v. Broussard, 217 La. 90, 46 So.2d 48 (La.1975). See also State v. Sterling, 376 So.2d 103 (La.1979).

The District Court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the State failed to present a prima facie case against the defendant in the preliminary examination. This finding, of course, does not prevent the district attorney from proceeding to trial on the Bill of Information filed against the defendant. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 386.

WRIT APPLICATION GRANTED IN PART; DENIED IN PART; REMANDED TO THE DISTRICT COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

The writ application is granted in part, denied in part. Judge’s order dismissing the charges is vacated. The judge of the Twelfth Judicial District Court exceeded his powers in ordering the charges against the defendant dismissed. When the court in a preliminary examination finds that the defendant is being held without probable cause the court shall order that the defendant be released from custody or bail. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 296. The court may not order the charges dismissed; this power belongs to the district attorney. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 691, State v. Broussard, 217 La. 90, 46 So.2d 48 (La.1975). See also State v. Sterling, 376 So.2d 103 (La.1979).

The District Court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the State failed to present a prima facie case against the defendant in the preliminary examination. This finding, of course, does not prevent the district attorney from proceeding to trial on the Bill of Information filed against the defendant. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 386.

WRIT APPLICATION GRANTED IN PART; DENIED IN PART; REMANDED TO THE DISTRICT COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

State v. Johnston, 376 So. 2d 1236, 1979 La. LEXIS 7155 (La. 1979).

Pincite

376 So. 2d 1236 (State v. Johnston) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Opinion

Related