State v. Karpov

458 P.3d 1182
Washington Supreme Court·Decided February 27, 2020·No. 95080-6·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

- This opinion was yp |T|3fP\ filed for record X ' etfrM^nS\ 8UPREMECOUaT.8WIE0F»«SKl«GTOtl ^ DATE 2 7 2020 Susan L. Carlson , (IX- Supreme Court Clerk V "ghibp jusncs GtmpMjsrta

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,

Respondent, No. 95080-6 V.

En Banc

MIKHAIL G. KARPOV,

Petitioner. Filed 2, 7 2020

WIGGINS, J.—The district court dismissed the criminal case against Mikhail G.

Karpcv on the ground that the State had failed to prove jurisdiction. The question before us is whether the State could appeal that dismissal and retry Karpcv upon reversal. Karpcv argues that jurisdiction is an essential element of every crime and thus that the dismissal for the State's failure to prove jurisdiction resulted in an acquittal, meaning double jeopardy barred the State's initial appeal and prohibits retrial. The State counters that jurisdiction is not an essential element of every crime and thus that double jeopardy does not apply here. We hold that jurisdiction is not an essential element of every crime but, rather, is the power of the court to hear and determine a case. However, we reverse the superior court and remand for the reinstatement of the trial court's dismissal with prejudice. When the trial court state V. Karpov (Mikhail G.), No. 95080-6

substantively freafec/jurisdiction as an essential element of the crime, the dismissal for failure to prove jurisdiction was no different than if jurisdiction were actually an essential element. The trial court therefore judicially acquitted Karpov when it dismissed the case against him, and double jeopardy barred the State's appeal from the district court and prohibits retrial of Karpov on these charges.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Karpov was tried in the district court of Spokane County for five counts of indecent exposure. After the State rested, Karpov moved to dismiss the case on the ground that the State had provided insufficient evidence of jurisdiction. The court granted the motion because no witness had expressly stated that the alleged crimes took place in Spokane County, to which the district court's jurisdiction is statutorily limited. See RCW 3.66.060. The district court concluded that the State had failed to prove that the court had jurisdiction over Karpov's alleged crimes'" and dismissed all five counts of indecent exposure.

When dismissing the case, the trial court expressly stated that its ground for dismissal was that the State had failed to prove the "essential element" of jurisdiction. Clerk's Papers(CP)at 2. Further, it ordered dismissal with prejudice.

The State appealed to superior court. The State argued that the trial court had erred in dismissing the case for failure to prove jurisdiction and that double jeopardy

^ Although the district court dismissed for "jurisdiction and/or venue," Clerk's Papers at 251, 2 (Order of Dismissal), Karpov's argument concerns only the meaning of the jurisdictional dismissal, not venue. See Mot. for Discr. Review at 7, Br. of Pet'r at 7-8. The issue of venue is therefore not before this court.

state V. Karpov (Mikhail G.), No. 95080-6

did not apply. Karpov argued that the State's appeal and any retrial were barred by double jeopardy.

The superior court agreed with the State. In holding that the district court had erred in finding the evidence insufficient to establish jurisdiction, the superior court reasoned that the State presented evidence that the incidents had occurred in Spokane County. The superior court also found that double jeopardy did not bar the State's appeal because the dismissal did not decide the question of Karpov's factual guilt. It reversed the district court's dismissal of the charges and remanded the case for trial.

The Court of Appeals denied Karpov's motion for discretionary review, reasoning that double jeopardy did not bar retrial in this case. Karpov moved for discretionary review by this court, which we granted.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review double jeopardy claims de novo as questions of law. State v. S.S.Y., 170 Wn.2d 322, 328, 241 P.3d 781 (2010)(citing State v. Freeman, 153 Wn.2d 765, 770, 108 P.3d 753(2005)).

ANALYSIS

Our constitution commands,"No person shall . . . be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense." Wash. Const, art. I, § 9. The United States Constitution similarly provides that "nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." U.S. Const, amend. V. States are bound by the federal double jeopardy clause via the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 787, 89 S. Ct. 2056, 23 L. Ed. 2d 707 (1969).

state V. Karpov (Mikhail G.), No. 95080-6

Additionally, we have long held that our "state constitutional rule against double jeopardy provides the same scope of protection as the federal constitutional rule." State V. Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d 870, 878, 204 P.3d 916(2009)(citing State v. Gocken, 127 Wn.2d 95, 107, 896 P.2d 1267 (1995)). Neither Karpov nor the State has argued

that we should depart from federal case law and neither has performed the GunwalP analysis necessary to do so. See Blomstrom v. Tripp, 189 Wn.2d 379, 400-01, 402

P.3d 831 (2017)(setting forth six Gunwa//factors).

Double jeopardy bars appeal and retrial when the defendant has been acquitted. See State v. Hall, 162 Wn.2d 901, 906-07, 177 P.3d 680(2008)(citing State V. Ervin, 158 Wn.2d 746, 752-53, 147 P.3d 567 (2006)). Acquittals by the judge are known as "judicial acquittals." See Evans v. Michigan, 568 U.S. 313, 327, 133 S. Ct. 1069, 185 L. Ed. 2d 124(2013). A dismissal by a trial judge is a judicial acquittal when it adjudicates the ultimate question of factual guilt or innocence. Id. at 319. Such dismissals "encompass any ruling that the prosecution's proof is insufficient to establish criminal liability for an offense." Id. at 318-19 (citing United States v. Scott, 437 U.S. 82, 98 & n.11, 98 S. Ct. 2187, 57 L. Ed. 2d 65(1978); Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 10, 98 S. Ct. 2141, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1978)). Thus, when the trial court "act[s] on its view that the prosecution ha[s] failed to prove its case" and dismisses the case in the defendant's favor, the trial court judicially acquits the defendant. Id. at 325. A judicial acquittal triggers the protections of the double jeopardy clauses even when

2 state V. Gunwall, 106 Wn.2d 54, 720 P.2d 808 (1986).

state V. Karpov (Mikhail G.), No. 95080-6

the judge bases the acquittal on an erroneous understanding of the elements of the crime. Id. at 318.

I. Jurisdiction is not an essential element of every crime but instead concerns the power of a court to act

Karpov hinges his double jeopardy argument on jurisdiction. First, he asserts that jurisdiction is an essential element of every crime. Br. of Pet'r at 1. Then he concludes that "[tjhe principles of double jeopardy bar reinstatement of . . . [the] criminal charges [against him] . . . because the State closed its case without presenting sufficient evidence of the essential element of jurisdiction, and the case was previously dismissed by the trial court due to the State's failure to establish jurisdiction." Id. at 5-6. Karpov's argument fails because jurisdiction is not an essential element of every crime.

Rather than being an essential element of every crime, "[jjurisdiction is the power of a court to hear and determine a case." State v. Lane, 112 Wn.2d 464, 468, 771 P.2d 1150 (1989). Karpov in fact agrees, noting that "[jjurisdiction relates to a court's authority to adjudicate a case before them." Mot. for Discr. Review at 7 (citing J.A. V. State, 120 Wn.App. 654, 657, 86 P.3d 202(2004)). Jurisdiction is therefore the court's authority or power. It must underlie every case that is brought before a judge.

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