ÿWPC‹$ …# VUNa %¯ 0Nµ 0Í bÐ w@Ø 4 , †; vÁ 0D7 N{ } m 0J– 0Tà 0^4 0h’ 0rú 0|l 0†è 0n 1uþ 0ds B×U>ôB)2 D3[DCŽ AMÑ 0@U*^2ˆ‘ºlKÞ·v~•vÓ AOæ"Æ5# 0Dû# D/?$ Bn$˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular¼(&öy$¡¡Ó  ÓÙñÓ Ù(}(2/ž$¤¤Ý ƒöy!ÝÓ  ÓÙñÓ ÙÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X±ŠX¼¼Ôà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù- ŒEŽD‘E’“”Ó€žDÒ 3|xžGoodwin v. Hendersonville Police - Opinion Ì "6 ' IB011C20IB011C2 .    HendersonvilleseGoodwinSumnerTiptonville(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d$$$$'ÿÿdxd))))7Border 1dd€-+Cþÿ << Gÿÿ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò< Œ 9p`(Arial (Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€.ÔÔ€.ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€.XÔÌÌSeptember€17,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ‡Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÔ€(XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòState€v.€Goodwinóó,€App.€No.€01C01„9108„CR„00242,€1992€WL€328725,€at€*3„4€(Tenn.ÏCt.€App.€Nov.€12,€1992)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).Ì bÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÔ€(XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€police€department€was€relying€on€òòÔ_ÔAppmanÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔWorthingtonóó,€746€S.W.2d€165,€166„67Ï(Tenn.€1987)€in€which€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€held€that€persons€charged€with€crimes€wereÏnot€entitled€to€obtain€access€to€police€investigative€files€under€the€Public€Records€Act€as€long€asÏthere€was€a€pending€criminal€prosecution.Ì ÔÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÔ€(XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€latest€case€in€a€long€series€of€cases€dating€back€to€1989€holding€that€convicted€felonsÏdid€not€have€standing€to€pursue€records€under€the€Public€Records€Act€was€this€courtððs€decision€inÏòòCole€v.€Campbell,€óóApp.€No.€01A01„9603„CH„00140,€1996€WL€724920€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Dec.Ï18,€1996).€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€granted€Mr.€Coleððs€application€for€permission€to€appealÏon€May€5,€1997,€and€the€case€is€set€for€argument€before€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€on€OctoberÏ7,€1997.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ ° ÒÒ X ÒÔ_ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€tp¼¼d dÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñ›Þ ÞÌÌà@ àÔ€(„Ôò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE̜ـ€ÙßR€,/+A1-j|v` ç `€€@ÿRß›à@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÔ€(¼ÔÌÌÌó óJOHN€L.€GOODWIN,€III,à àœà à›à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellant,à àœà à›à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)à àSumner€ChanceryÌà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)à àNo.€95C„88ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)à àœ01A01„9509„CH„00423›ÌÔ_ÔHENDERSONVILLEÔ_Ô€POLICEà àœDEPT.,›à à)ÌœDAVID›€L.€œKEY,€Police€Chief,›€and€œÔ_Ôà àà à)ÌR.J.Ô_Ô›€œ(HANK)€THOMPSON,›€œMayor,à à›à àœ)›Ìà àà àà àà àà àœà à›à à)Ìà àDefendants/Appellees.à àœà à›à à)ÌÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€FOR€SUMNER€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€Ô_ÔGALLATINÔ_Ô,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€TOM€E.€GRAY,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiff/Appellantóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€the€œDefendants/Appelleesóó:›ÌÌJohn€L.€Goodwin,€IIIà àà àà àà àà àJohn€R.€BradleyÌPro€Seà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÔ_ÔHendersonvilleÔ_Ô,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€(„Ôò òAPPEAL€DISMISSEDó óÌÌÔ€(¼ÔÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÇÑ 8 ÑÓ€ÓÌà@ àò òÔ€(„ÔòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÔ€(¼Ôó óÌÌà àThis€appeal€concerns€the€efforts€of€a€state€prisoner€to€obtain€access€to€theÏpolice€investigative€files€relating€to€his€convictions.€€The€prisoner€filed€suitÏagainst€the€Ô_ÔHendersonvilleÔ_Ô€Police€Department€in€the€Circuit€Court€œfor›€SumnerÏCounty€seeking€access€to€the€departmentððs€investigative€files€on€the€grounds€theyÏcontained€exculpatory€evidence€that€had€been€withheld€during€his€criminalÏprosecution.€€The€police€department€responded€by€asserting€that€criminalÏproceedings€involving€the€prisoner€were€still€open€because€his€case€had€beenÏremanded€for€Ô_ÔresentencingÔ_Ô€and€that€the€prisoner€did€not€have€standing€to€seekÏrelief€under€the€Public€Records€Act.€€Based€on€the€pleadings,€the€trial€courtÏdetermined€that€while€the€prisonerððs€prosecution€was€over,€the€prisoner€was€notÏentitled€to€relief€under€the€Public€Records€Act.€€œThe›€prisoner€has€œappealed.›€€WeÏhave€determined€that€we€cannot€reach€the€merits€of€this€case€because€theÏprisonerððs€notice€of€appeal€was€untimely.ÌÌà@ àò òI.ó óÌÌà àOn€December€12,€1989,€John€L.€Goodwin€was€convicted€in€the€CriminalÏCourt€for€Sumner€County€of€second€degree€burglary€and€assault€with€intent€toÏcommit€rape.€€He€received€two€consecutive€eight„year€sentences.€€He€did€notÏpursue€a€direct€appeal€from€these€convictions.€€However,€he€later€filed€a€petitionÏfor€post„conviction€relief,€œalleging,›€among€other€things,€that€he€was€deniedÏeffective€assistance€of€counsel€when€deciding€whether€to€file€a€motion€for€newÏtrial€or€to€pursue€a€direct€appeal.€€The€criminal€court€denied€post„convictionÏrelief;€however,€on€November€12,€1992,€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€held€thatÍMr.€Goodwin€should€be€afforded€the€right€to€file€a€motion€for€new€trial€and€toÏperfect€a€delayed€appeal.œ× ƒ0 ××  ×›ÌÌà àOn€April€12,€1995,€Mr.€Goodwin€filed€a€pro€se€Ô_ÔsuitÔ_Ô€against€theÏÔ_ÔHendersonvilleÔ_Ô€Police€Department€and€œothers›€seeking€access€to€the€departmentððsÏinvestigative€files€concerning€his€crimes.€€He€asserted€that€these€files€containedÏexculpatory€evidence€that€had€been€improperly€withheld€by€the€district€attorneyÏgeneral€during€€his€1989€trial.€€Eight€days€later,€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsÏremanded€Mr.€Goodwinððs€case€to€the€Ñ ° Ñcriminal€court€(1)€to€recalculate€his€sentenceÏin€the€manner€required€by€òòState€v.€œPearsonóó,›€858€S.W.2d€879€(Tenn.€1993),€(2)€toÏidentify€the€enhancing€factors€applied€to€each€conviction,€and€(3)€to€reconsiderÏthe€issue€of€consecutive€sentencing.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€œGoodwinóó,›€909€S.W.2d€35,€45„46Ï(Tenn.€œCrim.€App.›€œ1995).›ÌÌà àOn€May€22,€1995,€the€local€authorities€moved€to€dismiss€Mr.€GoodwinððsÏPublic€Records€Act€suit€on€the€ground€that€Mr.€Goodwinððs€criminal€case€was€stillÏopen€and,€therefore,€that€he€did€not€have€a€present€right€to€examine€theÏinvestigative€files.Ô_Ôœ× ƒ1 ××  ×›Ô_Ô€€The€trial€court€denied€the€motion€to€dismiss€and€directed€theÏauthorities€to€produce€the€files€for€the€courtððs€inspection.€€The€trial€court€laterÏannounced€that€ð ð[a]€complete€and€thorough€reading€through€the€investigative€file€.Ï.€.€revealed€nothing€exculpatory€for€plaintiff.ððÌÌà àThe€local€authorities€filed€a€timely€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€59€motion€requestingÏthe€trial€court€to€alter€or€amend€its€order€because€Mr.€Goodwinððs€criminalÏprosecution€was€ongoing€œfollowing›€the€remand€for€Ô_ÔresentencingÔ_Ô€by€the€Court€ofÏCriminal€Appeals.€€For€the€first€time,€the€local€authorities€also€asserted€that€Mr.ÏGoodwin€lacked€standing€to€invoke€the€Public€Records€Act€because€,€as€aÏconvicted€felon,€he€was€not€a€ð ðcitizenðð€for€the€purpose€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€10„7„503(a)€(Supp.€1996).€€On€July€11,€1995,€the€trial€court€filed€a€memorandumÏopinion€and€final€order,€finding€that€the€criminal€proceedings€involving€Mr.ÏGoodwin€were€over€even€though€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€had€remandedÏthe€case€for€resentencing.€€However,€the€trial€court€dismissed€Mr.€GoodwinððsÏcomplaint€on€the€ground€that€he€had€lost€his€citizenship€rights€following€hisÏfelony€convictions€and,€therefore,€he€did€not€have€standing€the€seek€relief€underÏthe€Public€Records€Act.€€Mr.€Goodwin,€still€representing€œhimself,›€then€œsought›€toÏœappeal›€to€this€court.€€His€œnoncompliance›€with€the€procedural€rules€for€perfectingÏan€appeal€as€of€right€to€this€court€is€outcome€determinative.ÌÌà@ àò òII.ó óÌÌà àMr.€Goodwin€was€incarcerated€in€the€Lake€County€Regional€CorrectionalÏFacility€in€Ô_ÔTiptonvilleÔ_Ô€when€he€filed€this€suit€in€April€1995.€€Several€monthsÏlater,€the€prison€authorities€moved€him€to€the€Ô_ÔRiverbendÔ_Ô€Maximum€SecurityÏFacility€in€Nashville.€€Mr.€Goodwin€informed€the€trial€court€clerk€of€his€changeÏof€address€on€July€14,€1995.€€As€it€turned€out,€the€trial€court€clerk€had€alreadyÏmailed€a€copy€of€the€trial€courtððs€memorandum€opinion€and€final€order€to€Mr.ÏGoodwin€by€the€time€he€received€œnotice€of€his€change›€of€address.€€œThe›€move€didÏnot€prevent€œMr.€Goodwin›€from€receiving€the€copies€of€the€memorandum€opinionÏand€final€order.€€On€August€7,€1995,€œhe›€mailed€his€notice€of€appeal€andÍdesignation€of€the€appellate€record€to€the€trial€court€clerk.€€The€trial€court€clerkÏreceived€and€filed€Mr.€Goodwinððs€notice€of€appeal€on€August€11,€1995€„€thirty„one€days€after€the€entry€of€the€trial€courtððs€final€order.€ÌÌà@ àò òA.ó óÌÌà àThe€local€authorities€moved€to€dismiss€Mr.€Goodwinððs€appeal€on€theÏground€that€he€had€œfailed€to€file›€his€notice€of€appeal€with€the€trial€court€clerkÏwithin€thirty€days€as€required€by€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a).€€We€previously€declinedÏto€dismiss€Mr.€Goodwinððs€appeal,€but€the€local€authorities€have€pressed€us€toÏreconsider€this€issue.€€We€have€an€obligation€to€œreturn€to€this€question›€because€anÏappellantððs€compliance€with€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€is€a€necessary€prerequisite€œto›Ïour€appellate€jurisdiction.€€òòSeeóó€òòJefferson€v.€Ô_ÔPneumoÔ_Ô€Servs.€œCorp.óó,›€699€S.W.2dÏ181,€184€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1985).€€Appellate€courts€have€the€inherent€power€toÏrevisit€the€issue€of€their€jurisdiction,€and€so€our€previous€refusal€to€dismiss€thisÏappeal€does€not€prevent€us€from€giving€additional€consideration€to€this€question.€ÏWe€must€remain€free€to€set€aside€an€erroneous€order€relating€to€our€subjectÏmatter€jurisdiction.ÌÌà àWhether€we€have€subject€matter€jurisdiction€over€this€appeal€turns€on€anÏextremely€narrow€procedural€point.€€The€procedural€rules,€however,€regulate€theÏorder€and€method€by€which€things€must€be€done.€€It€provides€the€travelableÏavenue€for€arriving€at€the€application€of€the€substantive€law.€€òòSeeóó€òòOccidental€LifeÏIns.€Co.€of€Calif.€v.€Ô_ÔKielhornÔ_Ôóó,€98€F.€Supp.€288,€œ292„93›€(W.D.€Mich.€1951);€òòAllenÏv.€Fisheróó,€574€œP.2d›€1314,€1315€(Ariz.€œCt.€App.€1977).›€€As€Professor€LlewellynÏput€it,€"[Ô_ÔP]roceduralÔ_Ô€regulations€are€the€door,€and€the€only€door,€to€make€realÍwhat€is€laid€down€by€substantive€law."€€œKarl›€Llewellyn,€The€Bramble€œBush›€9Ï(1960).ÌÌà àThe€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€set€out€the€basic€rulesÏÔ_ÔgoverningÔ_Ô€appeals€to€this€court.€€Whether€Mr.€Goodwin€œinvoked€the›€subjectÏmatter€jurisdiction€œof›€this€court€depends€upon€his€adherence€to€these€rules.€€Tenn.ÏR.€App.€P.€1€counsels€us€to€construe€the€appellate€rules€to€secure€justice€on€theÏmerits,€and€accordingly,€we€may€use€our€power€under€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€2€toÏsuspend€the€normal€operation€of€many€of€the€appellate€rules€for€good€œcause.›€ÏHowever,€our€power€to€suspend€the€appellate€rules€is€not€without€limits.€€BothÏTenn.€R.€App.€P.€2€and€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€21(b)€expressly€provide€that€this€courtÏcannot€ð!ð€even€in€the€interest€of€reviewing€a€case€on€the€merits€ð!ð€suspend€theÏrequirement€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€that€notices€of€appeal€in€civil€cases€must€beÏreceived€and€filed€by€the€trial€court€clerk€within€thirty€days€after€the€date€of€theÏentry€of€the€judgment€appealed€from.€€òòJohn€Barb,€Inc.€v.€Underwriters€at€LloydsÏof€Londonóó,€653€S.W.2d€422,€424€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).ÌÌà àMr.€Goodwin's€certificate€of€service€shows€that€he€mailed€his€notice€ofÏappeal€from€Ô_ÔRiverbendÔ_Ô€Maximum€Security€Facility€on€August€7,€1995.€€However,Ïunder€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a),€filing€with€the€clerk€means€actual€delivery€of€papersÏto€the€clerk€and€not€just€mailing€of€papers€to€the€clerk.€€òòSee€Lambert€v.€HomeÏFed.€Ô_ÔSavÔ_Ô.€œÔ_Ô&€Loan€Ass'nÔ_Ôóó,›€481€S.W.2d€770,€773€(Tenn.€1972).€€Regardless€of€whenÏMr.€Goodwin€mailed€his€notice€of€appeal,€it€was€received€and€filed€by€the€trialÏcourt€clerk€on€August€11,€1995€ð!ð€thirty„one€days€after€the€entry€of€the€judgmentÏappealed€from.€€Thus,€Mr.€Goodwinððs€notice€of€appeal€was€received€by€and€filedÏwith€the€trial€court€clerk€one€day€late.€€ÌÌà àIn€order€to€dissuade€us€from€dismissing€his€appeal€as€untimely,€Mr.ÏGoodwin€cites€and€relies€on€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a)€which€provides€that€forÏincarcerated€pro€se€inmates,€ð ðfiling€shall€be€timely€if€the€papers€are€delivered€toÏthe€appropriate€individual€at€the€correctional€facility€within€the€time€fixed€forÏfiling."€€However,€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a)€also€states€that€it€applies€œonly›€toÏð ð[Ô_Ôp]apersÔ_Ô€required€or€permitted€to€be€filed€in€the€appellate€court.ðð€€It€does€not,€byÏits€own€terms,€apply€to€papers€that€must€be€filed€in€the€trial€court.€€Because€Tenn.ÏR.€App.€P.€4(a)€requires€timely€filing€of€the€notice€of€appeal€in€the€trial€court,€theÏspecial€relief€accorded€to€incarcerated€persons€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a)€has€noÏapplication.€€In€addition,€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€makes€no€special€exception€forÏincarcerated€persons.€ÌÌà@ àò òB.ó óÌÌà àThe€United€States€Supreme€Court€confronted€a€similar€procedural€issueÏnine€years€ago€in€òòHouston€v.€œLackóó,›€487€U.S.€266,€108€S.€Ct.€2379€(1988),€a€caseÏarising€out€of€the€United€States€District€Court€for€the€Western€District€ofÏTennessee.€€In€that€case,€the€district€court€had€dismissed€a€Tennessee€prisonerððsÏpro€se€petition€for€a€writ€of€habeas€corpus.€€The€prisoner€filed€his€notice€ofÏappeal€thirty„one€days€after€the€entry€of€the€district€courtððs€order€ð!ð€one€day€afterÏthe€expiration€of€the€thirty€day€period€for€filing€a€notice€of€appeal€under€Fed.€R.ÏApp.€P.€4(a).€€The€United€States€Court€of€Appeals€for€the€Sixth€Circuit€dismissedÏthe€appeal€on€the€ground€that€it€was€untimely.€€The€United€States€Supreme€Court,Ïby€a€five€to€four€vote,€reversed.€€While€the€majority€noted€that€granting€pro€seÏœprisoners›€relief€œwas€a€departure€from›€the€general€requirement€of€Fed.€R.€App.€P.Ï4(a)€in€civil€cases,€it€determined€that€pro€se€prisoners€should€be€excused€from€theÏstrict€requirement€of€Fed.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€if€they€delivered€their€notice€of€appealÍto€prison€authorities€for€filing€with€the€district€court€within€thirty€days€after€theÏentry€of€an€appealable€judgment€or€order.€€òòHouston€v.€œLackóó,€487›€U.S.€at€273,€108ÏS.€Ct.€at€2383.ÌÌà àThe€dissenting€justices€asserted€that€the€courtððs€decision€to€equate€anÏincarcerated€pro€se€litigantððs€filing€date€with€the€date€the€litigant€delivers€theÏnotice€of€appeal€to€correctional€authorities€went€over€ð ðthe€line€between€textualÏconstruction€and€textual€enactment.ðð€€òòHouston€v.€œLackóó,›€487€U.S.€at€277,€108€S.ÏCt.€at€2385€(Scalia,€J.,€dissenting).€They€maintained€that€the€courts€shouldÏconstrue€crucial€phrases€in€procedural€rules€consistently€and€opposed€creating€aÏspecial€exception€to€Fed.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€for€incarcerated€pro€se€litigants.€€AsÏthey€put€it,€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àRules€of€procedure€are€a€necessary€part€of€an€orderlyÏsystem€of€justice.€€Their€efficacy,€however,€dependsÏupon€the€willingness€of€the€courts€to€enforce€themÏaccording€to€their€terms.€€Changes€in€rules€whoseÏinflexibility€has€turned€out€to€work€hardship€should€beÏeffected€by€the€process€of€amendment,€not€by€òòad€hocóóÏrelaxations€by€this€Court€in€particular€cases.€€SuchÏdispensations€in€the€long€run€actually€produceÏmischievous€results,€undermining€the€certainty€of€theÏrules€and€causing€confusion€among€the€lower€courts€andÏthe€bar€(citation€omitted).ÌÌòòHouston€v.€œLackóó,›€487€U.S.€at€283,€108€S.€Ct.€at€œ2389›€(Scalia,€J.,€œdissenting).Ó€ÓÌÌà àThe›€dissenting€justices€also€pointed€out€that€the€Court€had€the€power€toÏrevise€the€Federal€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€to€reach€the€same€result€andÏsuggested€that€the€Court€should€have€œfollowed›€that€route€œinstead€of€amending›€theÏappellate€rules€by€case€law€decision.€€òòHouston€v.€œLackóó,›€487€U.S.€at€284,€108€S.€Ct.Ïat€2389€(Scalia,€J.,€dissenting).€€In€œ1993›€the€Court€amended€the€Fed.€R.€App.€P.€4Íand€25€to€conform€with€its€holding€in€òòHouston€v.€Lackóó.€€œòòSeeó󛀜9›€œJames€W.€Moore€etÏal.,€Moore's›€Federal€Practice€ðððð€204.21€&€225.01[8]€(2d€ed.€1996).€€As€we€readÏòòHouston€v.€Lackóó€and€the€Federal€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure,€were€Mr.ÏGoodwin€in€the€federal€courts,€his€notice€of€appeal€would€be€considered€timely.ÌÌà@ àò òC.ó óÌÌà àThe€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€are€not€identical€to€theÏFederal€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€1,€œÔ_Ôadvisory€commððnÏcomÔ_Ô..›€€In€January€1993,€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€partially€followed€theÏUnited€States€Supreme€Courtððs€lead€when€it€amended€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a)€toÏprovide€that€papers€prepared€by€or€on€behalf€of€incarcerated€pro€se€litigantsÏwould€be€deemed€to€be€timely€filed€in€the€appellate€court€if€they€were€deliveredÏto€the€appropriate€individual€at€the€correctional€facility€within€the€time€fixed€forÏfiling.€€òòSeeóó€Re€Amendments€to€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€„ÏRules€12,€20,€and€39,€Tenn.€Decisions€842„46€S.W.2d€Ô_ÔXLIVÔ_Ô€and€Tenn.€DecisionsÏ847„52€S.W.2d€LI.€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Courtððs€revision€of€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ï20(a)€mirrored€the€United€States€Supreme€Courtððs€earlier€textual€revision€of€Fed.ÏR.€App.€P.€25(a).€€However,€for€whatever€reason,€the€Tennessee€Supreme€CourtÏdid€not€make€corresponding€revisions€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€dealing€with€theÏfiling€of€notices€of€appeal€in€the€trial€court.€€œThus,›€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)€containsÏno€special€provision€for€the€filing€of€appeal€notices€by€incarcerated€pro€seÏlitigants€in€the€trial€courts€similar€to€the€provision€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a)Ïdealing€with€filings€in€the€appellate€courts.ÌÑ À ÑÑ d Ñà àNotwithstanding€the€apparent€incongruity€between€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a)Ïand€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€20(a),€these€rules€bind€this€court€and€we€must€follow€them.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòState€v.€œHodgesóó,›€815€S.W.2d€151,€155€(Tenn.€1991).€€This€court€may€notÍpresume€to€derogate,€disregard,€or€modify€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a).€€The€power€toÏamend€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€belongs€not€to€this€court€butÏto€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€€Accordingly,€we€conclude€that€Mr.€GoodwinððsÏappeal€must€be€dismissed€because€his€notice€of€appeal€was€not€filed€with€andÏreceived€by€the€trial€court€clerk€within€the€time€required€by€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ï4(a).€€If€Mr.€Goodwin€desires€to€seek€relief€from€the€plain€and€mandatoryÏrequirements€of€Tenn.€R.€œApp.›€P.€4(a),€he€œmust›€obtain€it€from€the€TennesseeÏSupreme€Court.ÌÌà@ àò òIII.ó óÌÌà àWe€recognize€that€Mr.€Goodwin€is€representing€himself€in€this€proceedingÏand€that€pro€se€litigants,€like€all€other€litigants,€are€entitled€to€fair€and€equalÏtreatment€in€the€courts.€€While€dismissing€pro€se€litigantsðð€cases€on€proceduralÏtechnicalities€is€not€œfavored,›€pro€se€litigants€must€act€within€the€time€periodsÏprovided€in€the€œapplicable€statutes›€and€rules€of€procedure€to€have€their€casesÏconsidered.€€òòSeeóó€òòWilliams„Ô_ÔGuiceÔ_Ô€v.€Board€of€œEduc.óó,›€45€F.3d€161,€164€(7th€Cir.Ï1995);€òòKelley€v.€Secretary,€Depððt€of€œLaboróó,›€812€F.2d€1378,€1380€(Fed.€Cir.Ï1987).€€We€cannot,€in€an€effort€to€treat€a€pro€œse€litigant›€fairly,€treat€œother›Ïlitigants€unfairly.ÌÌà àThe€record€undisputably€shows€that€Mr.€Goodwinððs€notice€of€appeal€wasÏreceived€by€and€filed€with€the€trial€court€clerk€one€day€late.€€Because€we€do€notÏpossess€the€authority€to€waive€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(a),€we€find€that€we€have€noÏjurisdiction€to€consider€Mr.€Goodwinððs€potentially€meritorious€substantive€lawÏargument€concerning€his€standing€to€seek€access€œto›€the€contents€of€hisÍinvestigative€file€under€the€Open€Records€Act.œ× ƒ2 ××  ×›€€As€Chief€Justice€Chase€wroteÏover€one€hundred€years€ago,€ð ðJurisdiction€is€power€to€declare€the€law,€and€whenÏit€ceases€to€exist,€the€only€function€remaining€to€the€Court€is€that€of€announcingÏthe€fact€and€dismissing€the€cause.ðð€€òòSee€Ex€œparte›€Ñ Ü ÑÑ ° ÑœÔ_ÔMcCardleÔ_Ôóó,›€74€U.S.€(7€Wall.),Ï506,€514€(1869).€€Accordingly,€we€dismiss€Mr.€Goodwinððs€appeal€and€tax€theÏcosts€of€the€appeal€against€him.€€ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌHENRY€F.€TODD,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€M.S.€ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌBEN€H.€Ô_ÔCANTRELLÔ_Ô,€JUDGE€œ›