Rondah Garrett and Judy Bates Queen v. State of Alabama
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
rel01/12/2007GARRETTANDQUEEN Notice: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the advance sheets of Southern Reporter. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Alabama Appellate Courts, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 242-4621), of any typographical or other errors, in order that corrections may be made before the opinion is printed in Southern Reporter. ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2006-2007 _________________________ CR-05-1058 _________________________ Rondah Garrett and Judy Bates Queen v. State of Alabama Appeal from Shelby Circuit Court (CC-05-994 and CC-05-995) BASCHAB, JUDGE. AFFIRMED BY UNPUBLISHED MEMORANDUM. NO OPINION. McMillan, P.J., and Cobb and Wise, JJ., concur; Shaw, J., concurs specially, with opinion. SHAW, JUDGE, concurring specially. CR-05-1058 In State v. Ted's Game Enterprises et al., 893 So. 2d 355 (Ala. Civ. App. 2002), aff'd, 893 So. 2d 376 (Ala. 2004), the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, analyzing the meaning of the work "skill" within the context of the limiting effect of § 65, Ala. Const. of 1901, on the authorization of lotteries, noted: "[T]he mere fact that the outcome of a game, either in a single play or over multiple plays, can be affected by an understanding of the laws of probability or an understanding of the rules of the game, or can be affected by other recognizable techniques or knowledge, does not change the fundamental nature of that game. Simply put, a player's understanding of the rules or of the laws of probability relating to a game of chance does not change the fact that he is playing a game of chance. A player may be 'skilled' at 'playing the odds,' but he is still 'playing the odds.'" 893 So. 2d at 375. I agree with the majority that "Texas Hold'em" poker is fundamentally a game of chance, in that the outcome of the game ultimately depends on a random draw of the cards. I do not disagree with the appellants' argument that a person must possess a certain amount of experience and skill in order to be a successful "Texas Hold'em" poker player. However, a player's skill does not change the fundamental nature of the game. As the Court of Civil Appeals noted, "[a] player may be 2 CR-05-1058 'skilled' at 'playing the odds,' but he is still 'playing the odds.'" 893 So. 2d at 375. Because "Texas Hold'em" poker is, in my view, chance predominant, I agree with the majority that the appellants' violation of § convictions 13A-12-22, for Ala. affirmed. 3 promoting Code 1975, gambling, are due to in be
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
