Lincoln v. State, 51808

Decision Date08 March 1976
Docket NumberNo. 51808,No. 2,51808,2
Citation225 S.E.2d 708,138 Ga.App. 234
PartiesT. M. LINCOLN v. The STATE
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

Jones, Robbins & MacLeod, James A. Robbins, Jr., Rome, for appellant.

F. Larry Salmon, Dist. Atty., Robert D. Engelhart, Asst. Dist. Atty., Rome, for appellee.

EVANS, Judge.

On September 15, 1974, defendant, a juvenile, age 17 years, allegedly committed an armed robbery. A warrant was issued, and he was arrested on September 28, 1974, in another state. He waived extradition and was returned to Floyd County. The regular grand jury for the September Term, 1974, of Floyd County, held its regular session, at which time defendant could have been indicted, but his case was not presented until January, 1975, at which time he was indicted.

On November 7, 1974, a petition alleging him to be delinquent by reason of armed robbery was filed in the Juvenile Court of Floyd County. Notice of the proceedings was given to the district attorney who merely notified the juvenile court by letter on November 11, 1974, that the case was to be presented to the grand jury, and defendant would be tried as an adult, if indicted.

On November 14, 1974, at a hearing in the juvenile court, plaintiff pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the State Training School for Boys at Milledgeville, Georgia, where he was incarcerated under the above sentence.

On January 13, 1975, the grand jury convened and returned a true bill against this defendant for armed robbery. Defendant filed a plea of former jeopardy and a plea to the jurisdiction of the court.

On September 30, 1975, a hearing was held on the plea of former jeopardy, and the court held that the juvenile hearing was a nullity. The court granted a certificate of review, and on November 4, 1975, this court granted an interlocutory appeal, and this case is now before this court for review inasmuch as the notice of appeal was immediately filed thereafter. Held:

1. There is concurrent jurisdiction between the superior courts and the juvenile courts of this state, 'over a child who is alleged to have committed a delinquent act which would be considered a crime if tried in a superior court and for which the child may be punished by loss of life or confinement for life in the penitentiary.' Code Ann. § 24A-301(b); compare J.J. v. State of Ga., 135 Ga.App. 660, 662, 218 S.E.2d 668; J.W.A. v. State of Georgia, 233 Ga. 683, 687, 212 S.E.2d 849; R.W. v. State of Ga., 136 Ga.App. 75(2), 220 S.E.2d 79.

2. The district attorney could not stand idly by and allow a hearing before the juvenile court of which he had ample advance notice, when he could have presented the case to the grand jury in September. The juvenile was left in jail without bond. The juvenile court assumed jurisdiction, and the district attorney made no appearance or attempt to dispute the jurisdiction of that court. In Hardeman v. Battersby, 53 Ga. 36, it was held by the Supreme Court of Georgia that where common law courts have concurrent jurisdiction, the first court taking jurisdiction will retain it. See also R.W. v. State of Ga., 136 Ga.App. 75(2), 220 S.E.2d 79, supra.

3. The hearing before the juvenile...

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10 cases
  • Smith v. State, 69003
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • March 8, 1985
    ...court proceedings put a person in jeopardy within the meaning of the federal constitution was recognized in Lincoln v. State, 138 Ga.App. 234(3), 225 S.E.2d 708 (1976). According to Breed v. Jones, supra, as defendant points out: "respondent was put in jeopardy at the adjudicatory hearing. ......
  • State v. Knowles
    • United States
    • Maine Supreme Court
    • March 31, 1977
    ...of Breed. See: In the Interest of Watkins, Miss., 324 So.2d 232 (1975); Smith v. State, Fla., 316 So.2d 552 (1975); Lincoln v. State, 138 Ga.App. 234, 225 S.E.2d 708 (1976).On March 3, 1977 the 6th Circuit, also relying on Robinson v. Neil, supa, but stating that the result would be the sam......
  • Bonner v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • January 20, 2010
    ...res judicata doctrine, first action must have involved adjudication by court of competent jurisdiction). Cf. Lincoln v. State, 138 Ga.App. 234, 235-236(3), 225 S.E.2d 708 (1976) (where juvenile court had concurrent jurisdiction, its decision to try defendant as a juvenile was res judicata o......
  • Ertter v. Dunbar
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • November 19, 2012
    ...deal with the same subject-matter at the choice of the suitor.” BLACK'S Law Dictionary (5th ed.1979). See, e.g., Lincoln v. State, 138 Ga.App. 234, 235, 225 S.E.2d 708 (1976) (juvenile and superior courts have concurrent jurisdiction over a youthful offender alleged to be delinquent and und......
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