When a trial court sua sponte orders a competency evaluation for a defendant, the early trial period is tolled, and the delay is chargeable to neither the State nor the defendant. Once the competency evaluation is complete and the 70-day early trial period resumes, the State must fulfill its affirmative duty to bring the defendant to trial.
Criminal
State v. Woodworth, No. 22A-CR-2557, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 23, 2024).
When a trial court overturns a jury’s verdict, Trial Rule 59(J) requires special findings of fact upon each material issue or element of the claim or defense upon which a new trial is granted. When a court grants a new trial without making specific findings, the remedy on appeal is to reinstate the jury verdict.
Konkle v. State, No. 23A-CR-783, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 24, 2024).
The eggshell-skull doctrine does not apply in cases of murder or voluntary manslaughter. The relevant statutes require that the defendant either must intend to kill the victim or know that his actions will likely result in the victim’s death, which is inconsistent with the proposition that you take your victim as you find them.
Kelly v. State, No. 23A-CR-1805, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 10, 2024).
A trial court has discretion to deny a defendant’s motion to replace counsel during or immediately before trial.
Stone v. State, No. 23A-CR-625, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 12, 2024).
Convictions based on the same subsection of the rape statute that are mutually exclusive criminal acts — forcible sexual intercourse and forcible other sexual conduct — do not violate double jeopardy.