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407 S.W.2d 705

McGregor v. Commonwealth

Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Decided October 28, 1966

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1966-10-28

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently May 1969

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““RCr 12.54 provides that an appeal to this court may be taken within ten days from the entry of judgment; but if ‘timely’ motion for new trial has been made, the appeal may be taken within ten days after the motion is overruled. RCr 10.06 limits the time for service of a motion for new trial to the period of five days after return of the verdict— except that if it is made on the ground of newly discovered evidence, the motion may be made at any time within one year after entry of the judgment or even later if the court for good cause permits.””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Boggs v. Commonwealth

““For the purpose of clarifying RCr 12.54 according to what this court considers to be its present meaning, the period at the end of RCr 12.54 is changed to a semicolon, and the following proviso is added: “ ‘Provided, however, that in the case of a motion for new trial made later than five days after return of the verdict, the appeal must be from the order overruling or denying the motion, and the review on appeal shall be limited to the grounds timely raised by the motion as provided by RCr 10.06.’ ””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Boggs v. Commonwealth

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1966-10-28

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

HILL, Judge.

¶1RCr 12.54 provides that an appeal to this court may be taken within ten days from the entry of judgment; but if “timely” motion for new trial has been made, the appeal may be taken within ten days after the motion is overruled. RCr 10.06 limits the time for service of a motion for new trial to the period of five days after return of the verdict — except that if it is made on the ground of newly discovered evidence, the motion may be made at any time within one year after entry of the judgment or even later if the court for good cause permits.

¶2Appellant was convicted on October 29, 1965. On December 2, 1965, having failed to appeal within ten days after entry of the judgment and having failed to move for a new trial within the prescribed time of five days, he served a motion for new trial (without a supporting affidavit) on the ground of newly discovered evidence. This motion was overruled on December 13, 1965, and notice of appeal was filed on December 18, 1965.

¶3The rules cannot be sensibly construed to permit an appeal that would otherwise be untimely by the simple device of making a motion for new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence. If such a motion is made more than five days after return of the verdict, the only reviewable “judgment”’ is the final order overruling the motion; and the review is restricted to the grounds timely raised by the motion.

¶4Appellant has moved for an appeal under KRS 21.140(2). His grounds are addressed entirely to the merits of the case. He makes no contention that the order overruling his motion for a new trial was erroneous.

¶5The motion for appeal is overruled.

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