Samford v State

Samford v State
1946 OK CR 100
173 P.2d 749
83 Okl.Cr. 134
Decided: 10/23/1946
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

(Syllabus.)

1. Appeal and Error-Time for Appeal in Misdemeanor Cases. In misdemeanor cases the appeal must be taken within 60 days after the judgment is rendered: Provided, however, that the trial court or judge may, for good cause shown, extend the time in which such appeal may be taken not exceeding 60 days. 22 O. S. 1941, § 1054.

2. Same Failure to File Appeal Within Statutory Time Fatal to Appeal. A failure to file the appeal in the appellate court within the time allowed by law is fatal to the appeal, and the appellate court has no discretion to hear and determine appeals on the merits when they are not taken within the time prescribed by statute.

3. Same Question of Lack of Jurisdiction of Appellate Court. Question of lack of jurisdiction in appellate court may be called to court's attention at anytime, and state is not estopped from raising jurisdictional question by reason of fact that time for filing state's brief has expired. Appeal from Court of Common Pleas, Oklahoma County; Glen O. Morris, Judge.

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Henry Samford, alias Henry Clay Samford, was convicted of illegal possession of intoxicating liquor and he appeals. Affirmed.

Robert O. Swimmer, of Oklahoma City, for plaintiff in error.

Mac Q. Williamson, Atty. Gen., and Sam Lattimore, Asst. Atty. Gen., for defendant in error.

JONES, P. J. This is an appeal from the court of common pleas of Oklahoma county from a conviction for the crime of illegal possession of intoxicating liquor.

The Attorney General has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal for the reason that judgment and sentence was pronounced on January 15, 1945, at which time the defendant was given 30 days to make and serve case-made, the state to have three days thereafter to suggest amendments, and the same to be settled on three days' notice in writing by either party. That the case-made was served, signed and settled and filed in the office of the clerk of the common pleas court on February 10, 1945, which was considerably less than the 30 days authorized by the court in the order made at the time the judgment was entered.

It is further alleged that no extension of time in which to file the appeal was ever granted. The appeal was not filed in the Criminal Court of Appeals until May 3, 1945, which was long after the 60 days allowed by statute had expired.

In the response filed to the motion to dismiss, counsel for defendant does not deny any of the facts alleged in the motion to dismiss, but he asks this court to strike the motion to dismiss from the files for the reason that said motion was filed more than 11 months subsequent to the

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date that the defendant filed his petition in error and brief on the merits, and the state is therefore precluded by reason of laches from alleging that the appeal was not perfected within the statutory period.

An examination of the record sustains the statement of facts as alleged in the motion to dismiss.

In the recent case of Miller v. State, 78 Okla. Cr. 112, 144 P.2d 120, 121, it is stated:

"22 O. S. 1941 § 1054 in the Code of Criminal Procedure, provides that:

" 'In misdemeanor cases the appeal must be taken within sixty days after the judgment is rendered: Provided, However, that the trial court or judge may, for good cause shown, extend the time in which such appeal may be taken not exceeding sixty days.'

"In the recent case of Bullard v. State, 73 Okla. Cr. 238, 119 P.2d 870, the second and third paragraphs of the syllabus read as follows:

" 'A failure to file the appeal in the appellate court within the time allowed by law is fatal to the appeal, and the appellate court has no discretion to hear and determine appeals on the merits when they are not taken within the time prescribed by statute.'

"'In misdemeanor cases, the appeal must be taken within 60 days after the judgment is rendered, provided, however, that the trial court or judge may for good cause shown extend the time in which an appeal may be taken not exceeding 60 days. Section 3192, Sts. 1931, 22 Okla. St. Ann. § 1054. When this is not done within the time prescribed by said section, this court does not acquire jurisdiction of the appeal, and such appeal will be dismissed.'

"'And in the concluding portion of said opinion it is stated:

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