COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY v. BRYAN T. LAMBERSON
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ORDER ENTERED: AUGUST 16, 2006
MODIFIED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED: AUGUST 25, 2006
Commonwealth Of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO.
2006-CA-001079-MR
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT
ACTION NO. 05-CR-001177
v.
BRYAN T. LAMBERSON
APPELLEE
** ** ** ** **
ORDER
BEFORE:
BARBER, GUIDUGLI, AND JOHNSON, JUDGES.
Bryan T. Lamberson was indicted by a Jefferson County
grand jury on April 1, 2005, for one count of operating a motor
vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, fourth offense,1 one
count of reckless driving,2 and one count of operating a motor
vehicle without illuminated headlights.3
On December 14, 2005,
Lamberson, by counsel, filed a motion in the Jefferson Circuit
Court to suppress his August 29, 2000, conviction in the Bullitt
1
Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 189A.010(1)(a). Operating a motor vehicle
under the influence of intoxicants, fourth offense, is a Class D felony. KRS
189A.010(5)(d).
2
KRS 189.290.
3
KRS 189.030(1) and KRS 189.040(1).
District Court for operating a motor vehicle under the influence
of intoxicants, first offense.4
In his motion to suppress, Lamberson argued that his
guilty plea in the Bullitt District Court was accepted in
violation of the law as set forth in Tipton v. Commonwealth.5
In
Tipton, this Court held that a court abuses its discretion when
it accepts a plea of guilty in absentia for any offense, such as
driving under the influence, for which an enhanced penalty may
be imposed for subsequent convictions.
During the proceedings
in the Bullitt District Court, Lamberson was not present during
his attorney’s entry of a guilty plea.
Instead, Lamberson’s
attorney presented the Bullitt District Court with a written
waiver executed by Lamberson.
Under these facts, Lamberson
asserted that the Bullitt District Court failed to properly
verify that his guilty plea to the charge of operating a motor
vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, first offense, was
made knowingly and voluntarily in accordance with Boykin v.
Alabama.6
The Jefferson Circuit Court agreed with Lamberson’s
argument and entered an order on April 10, 2006, granting
Lamberson’s motion to suppress, thereby precluding the
Commonwealth from introducing any evidence of Lamberson’s
4
Case No. 00-T-04261.
5
770 S.W.2d 239 (Ky.App. 1989).
6
395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969).
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conviction in the Bullitt District Court for operating a motor
vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, first offense.
Commonwealth filed a notice of appeal on May 10, 2006.
The
The
Jefferson Circuit Court has scheduled Lamberson’s trial for
August 17, 2006.
On July 31, 2006, the Commonwealth, by counsel,
pursuant to CR 76.337 moved this Court for emergency relief and
intermediate relief to stay the August 17, 2006, trial.
In an
order entered on August 1, 2006, Chief Judge Combs passed the
Commonwealth’s motion for emergency relief and the motion for
intermediate relief and ordered this matter presented to a panel
of this Court after the response time has run because the August
17, 2006, trial date is beyond the August 10, 2006, deadline for
filing responses to the Commonwealth’s motions.
As no response
was filed by Lamberson prior to the August 10, 2006, deadline,
this matter is now properly before this Court.
In its motion for intermediate relief, the
Commonwealth asserts that the Jefferson Circuit Court should be
prohibited from scheduling and commencing any further
proceedings in this matter, including the scheduled August 17,
2006, trial, pending the finality of this interlocutory appeal.
7
Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (CR) 76.33 authorizes intermediate relief
“upon a satisfactory showing that otherwise [the moving party] will suffer
immediate and irreparable injury before a hearing may be had on the motion.”
Kentucky Utilities Co. v. South East Coal Co., 836 S.W.2d 388 (Ky. 1991).
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While KRS 22A.020 permits the Commonwealth to pursue
interlocutory appeals, KRS 22A.020(4) clearly provides that this
type of appeal shall not suspend the proceedings in the case.
However, in Commonwealth v. Bailey,8 our Supreme Court held that
the proceedings referred to in KRS 22A.020(4) are “proceedings
after the attachment of jeopardy.”
Consequently, once the
proceedings commence and jeopardy attaches, the proceedings will
not be suspended while the Commonwealth seeks review of rulings
made during the course of the trial.9
In a jury trial, jeopardy attaches once the jury is
empanelled and sworn.10
Here, it is clear that jeopardy has not
attached in this matter as no jury has been sworn to determine
whether Lamberson is guilty of the offenses with which he has
been indicted.
Moreover, any delay attributable to the time
consumed by a good faith interlocutory appeal of the suppression
order by the Commonwealth will not violate Lamberson’s right to
a speedy trial.11
Therefore, staying the trial while the pre-
trial suppression order entered by the Jefferson Circuit Court
on April 10, 2006, is under review by this Court on appeal does
not violate KRS 22A.020(4).
8
71 S.W.3d 73, 84 (Ky. 2002).
9
Id.
10
Couch v. Maricle, 998 S.W.2d 469 (Ky. 1999).
11
United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302, 315-316, 106 S.Ct. 648, 656, 88
L.Ed.2d 640 (1986); Tamme v. Commonwealth, 973 S.W.2d 13, 22-23 (Ky. 1998).
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Therefore, having considered the Commonwealth’s motion
for emergency relief, and being otherwise sufficiently advised,
this Court ORDERS that this motion be, and it is hereby, DENIED,
as the Commonwealth’s motion for intermediate relief has been
considered by this Court prior to the scheduled August 17, 2006,
jury trial.
Having considered the Commonwealth’s motion for
intermediate relief, and being otherwise sufficiently advised,
this Court ORDERS that this motion be, and it is hereby,
GRANTED.
The Jefferson Circuit Court is hereby PROHIBITED from
commencing any further proceedings, including the scheduled
August 17, 2006, jury trial, in Jefferson Circuit Court
indictment number 05-CR-001177, Commonwealth of Kentucky v.
Bryan Lamberson until such time as the above-styled
interlocutory appeal becomes final.
__/s/ Rick A. Johnson_____
JUDGE, COURT OF APPEALS
ENTERED: August 16, 2006
ORDERED PUBLISHED: August 25, 2006
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