Opinion
No. 13502.
Submitted September 16, 1976.
Decided September 27, 1976.
Appeal from an order in Lewis and Clark County. First Judicial District. Hon. Robert H. Wilson, Judge presiding.
Robert L. Woodahl, Jock Anderson (argued), Albert Meloling, Helena, for plaintiff and appellant.
Wade J. Dahood (argued), Anaconda, for defendant and respondent.
This is an appeal by the State of Montana from an order of Lewis and Clark County dismissing 38 counts of a 43 count amended Information filed against defendant. In view of the imminent trial date, we entered our Order and Judgment on September 17, 1976, vacating the district court's order of dismissal, ordered 10 counts dismissed as conceded by the State, and ordered the remaining 33 counts remanded to the district court for trial. State v. Carden, 170 Mont. 436, 555 P.2d 738. In our Order and Judgment of September 17, 1976, we indicated that a formal written opinion would follow, which we now issue.
This case began on December 20, 1974, when the State filed its motion for leave to file a direct Information in the district court charging defendant Carden with 118 counts of criminal offenses. Twenty-five days and two judges later, the Hon. Nat Allen granted the State leave to file this Information. Fourteen and one-half months and two judges later, the Hon. Paul Hatfield ordered 75 counts dismissed and granted the State leave to file an Amended Information covering the remaining 43 counts. Four months and 10 days later, the sixth judge in the case, the Hon. Robert H. Wilson, dismissed 38 counts of the 43 count Amended Information by order of August 10, 1976.
The State has appealed from Judge Wilson's order dismissing the 38 counts. However, the State concedes dismissal of 10 of these counts. The issue on appeal is whether the remaining 28 counts should have been dismissed.
We note that both the original Information and the Amended Information contained the 28 counts in issue. Judge Allen granted leave to file the original Information containing these 28 counts and Judge Hatfield granted leave to file the Amended Information containing these 28 counts. Such leave could not have been granted except on a finding of probable cause. The controlling statute, section 95-1301(a), R.C.M. 1947, provides in pertinent part:
"The county attorney may apply directly to the district court for permission to file an information against a named defendant. The application must be by affidavit supported by such evidence as the judge may require. If it appears that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed by the defendant the judge shall grant leave to file the information, otherwise the application shall be denied." ( Emphasis added.)
Two judges had already found probable cause for filing the 28 counts at issue in this appeal. The "law of the case" on probable cause for filing these 28 counts had already been considered, determined and established. Although some courts limit application of the "law of the case" doctrine to final decisions of the highest appellate court ( Filanowski v. Zoning Board of Adjustment, 439 Pa. 360, 266 A.2d 670; Kuchinic v. McCrory, 422 Pa. 620, 222 A.2d 897), we consider the better rule permits application of this principle to prior rulings of a trial court in the same case as well ( State v. Hale, 127 N.J. Super. 407, 317 A.2d 731; Chain Locations of America, Inc. v. East Hudson Parkway A., D.C., 280 F. Supp. 396).
Under the "law of the case" principle, judges of coordinate jurisdictions sitting in the same court and in the same case may not ordinarily overrule the decisions of each other. United States v. Baynes, D.C., 400 F. Supp. 285. It is simply a rule of practice that articulates the sound policy that when an issue is once judicially determined, that should be the end of the matter as far as judges and courts of coordinate jurisdiction RE CONCERNED. Martin v. City of Cohoes, 37 N.Y.2d 162, 371 N.Y.S.2d 687, 332 N.E.2d 867. The "law of the case" is not an imperative ( Schonfeld v. Raftery, D.C., 359 F. Supp. 380); does not go to the power of the court ( People v. Medina, 6 Cal.3d 484, 99 Cal.Rptr. 630, 492 P.2d 686); and does not mean that a court does not have discretion to reconsider a ruling made by another judge in the same case. Chain Locations of America, Inc. v. East Hudson Parkway Authority, supra.
What factors are present in this case that would move the discretion of Judge Wilson to reconsider the prior determinations of Judge Allen and Judge Hatfield? None have been brought to our attention and we perceive none. Defendant argues that because the prior determinations of Judge Allen and Judge Hatfield were ex parte determinations, a later adversary hearing on probable cause was not precluded. But were they? Judge Allen's determination of probable cause on the original 118 count Information may fall in this category, but this does not apply to Judge Hatfield's determination of probable cause. This matter was fully briefed and argued by both the State and defendant. An adversary hearing was held on defendant's motions on February 4, 1976, at which counsel for both the State and the defendant were present. Thereafter Judge Hatfield entered an order dismissing 75 counts of the original Information and granting leave to the State to file an Amended Information on the remaining 43 counts.
On the other hand, there are factors in this case against the exercise of discretion to reconsider the prior rulings. There is an absence of anything to indicate Judge Hatfield's prior ruling was in error. The case had dragged along for a year and a half, six different judges had been involved, and the trial date had not yet been set. To go back and relitigate the issue of probable cause for the 28 counts filed at the commencement of the action would permit endless manipulation of the judicial system and thwart its proper operation and objectives. It would also permit a judge of coordinate jurisdiction to perform appellate functions, in effect, over the decisions of another district judge, a practice which this Court has previously condemned. State ex rel. State Highway Comm'n v. Kinman, 150 Mont. 12, 430 P.2d 110.
For the foregoing reasons we hold that it was an abuse of discretion for Judge Wilson to reconsider the prior ruling of Judge Hatfield on probable cause for filing the 28 counts at issue in this appeal. Judge Wilson's order of dismissal is vacated and set aside; Counts 12, 13, 16, 17, 26, 27, 30, 31, 36 and 37 of the Amended Information are stricken as conceded by the State; and the remaining 33 counts of the Amended Information are remanded to the district court for trial; and remittitur shall issue forthwith; all as provided in our previous Order and Judgment herein dated September 17, 1976.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE JAMES T. HARRISON, MR. JUSTICE JOHN C. HARRISON, and THE HONORABLE EDWARD T. DUSSAULT and W.W. LESSLEY sitting in place of MR. JUSTICE DALY and MR. JUSTICE CASTLES District Judges, concur.