ÿWPC JP”m¡ûÇqœÖÆmba†=àfX°¥Yç²LQï%Ø4Šº}Eؘ)iÄÝ·ñÈØ q¹ÚÓ|aÊpv¶Á^M[²âöÎÛpû9ÖxTk·ð#=ë´Y´ê}ÂÅâÏM$øëÊîÊôQ8ÎÆØçø]}š†7OÜ€™OnnûT¼ D´³h{åí!ýv¦Ïz¨ §»,y¯˜`ïí$œG“°@¾W»²^ÑÈ)§i3‚ÞU¿e_9gÝ·›}°&ºGi_y)ðÖ§*ç¬o#ò­¿Ô”5ã?*b$O/G§¡â ß#, •HlÒƒ­qÖ®jKÙÃÑ÷ bgpαØÅË Lãé¨ ¤{ gÚ?DE¨{«Cc€ªT%éOe£ý.½¥ÀÖÆé«´{Ãs‹Rf8ìŒ !^Þbˆ(”Ö–„D)ø¹uÜd[Û¶xªˆMÊ]è,PUÊí;³ïû¤«6˜ '{¶?êÄ\Zçô£J4-®Ó'Ä& ÚT_ ã›æ©6 3…ˆ6%EUîq!œnÆ7×S !j—¼$M¹ý¸ø®×ÏFh»GC•}}—yu3qôBtÍX…Ä1g³œ0eâ;‘ÅÏ»é-/,ÑíéÛÏ,#Å?,áµVb#Á\ % N# 0ˆ% UN­ û û z Ò} zO ÒÉ ^ › w§ Æ« Æq Æ7Æý4ÃN×ÙèEê mìììììììììììììììììììììììb 0ë     Böö 0¤ D3· D-ê 0K ASbƵ 0¤{ 0D A«c˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÚœM) Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÖJ~'xÒ¥3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(|G2Ùí$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€R»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô.Ôò»»Ô d(|3–†$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€R»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3–†$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€R»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€R»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼R»»»ÔÑ8€#üXXdæ»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡îRÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼R»îî #ԈРР ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€à @ àà @` àAugust€22,€2000Ð ð@ ÐÔ‡X#üX»¼RÔÌò òÔ#†¼R»XX#ü #ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€òòóóDONALD€Ô_ÔREEÔ_Ô€JONESÔ‡X#üX»¼RÔó óÐ ä4 ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Wilson€CountyÐ Ø ( Ðà@@øøìàNo.€12983€€€€€€J.€O.€Bond,€JudgeÐ ¾  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„00381„CCA„R3„CD€€„€Filed€October€13,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ eµ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<0` AßÐ 1  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€defendant,€Donald€Ô_ÔReeÔ_Ô€Jones,€challenges€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€his€motion€to€correct€anÐ &v  Ðillegal€sentence.€€He€argues€that€his€sentence€is€illegal€because€his€agreed€sentence€pursuant€to€aÐ  \ Ðguilty€plea€following€the€remand€of€his€case€was€higher€than€his€initial€sentence,€which€wasÐ òB Ðoverturned€on€appeal.€€We€hold€that€a€defendant€may€not€bring€an€appeal€as€of€right€from€theÐ Ø( Ðdismissal€of€a€motion€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence€and€that€an€illegal€sentence€is€properly€challengedÐ ¾ Ðin€a€petition€for€habeas€corpus€relief.€€Treating€this€appeal€as€a€petition€for€a€writ€of€certiorari,€weÐ ¤ô Ðhold€that€the€defendantððs€sentence€is€legal€and€decline€to€grant€the€petition.€€€Ð ŠÚ ÐÓÒÓÌò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€27„8„101;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmed€ó óÐ V¦ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼R»àX#ü¸#ÔÔ‡X#üX.¼RÔJoseph€M.€Ô_ÔTiptonÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€H.€Wellesóó€and€òòRobertÐ "r ÐW.€Ô_ÔWedemeyerÔ_Ôóó,€JJ.,€joined.Ð X ÐÌDonald€Ô_ÔReeÔ_Ô€Jones,€Mountain€City,€Tennessee,€òòProóó€òòSeóó.Ð Ô$ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Clinton€J.€Morgan,€Counsel€for€the€State;€TomÐ  ð ÐP.€Thompson,€Jr.,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Robert€N.€Ô_ÔHibbettÔ_Ô,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ † Ö  ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð l!¼! ÐÓ­ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼R»XX#üÜ#ÔÔ‡X#üX»¼RÔÐ 8#ˆ# ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼R»XX#üý #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X#üX»¼RÔà  àThe€defendant,€Donald€Ô_ÔReeÔ_Ô€Jones,€seeks€to€appeal€as€of€right€from€the€trial€courtððs€orderÐ %T % Ðdismissing€his€motion€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence.€€The€gist€of€the€defendantððs€claim€is€that€hisÐ ê%:!& Ðsentence€upon€remand€of€his€murder€case€was€higher€than€the€one€he€received€before€the€appeal,Ð Ð& "' Ðrendering€the€sentence€illegal.€€Pursuant€to€his€guilty€plea,€circa€1970,€to€a€1968€first€degree€murder,Ð ¶'#( Ðthe€defendant€was€sentenced€to€life€imprisonment.€€The€trial€court€concluded€that€the€sentence€isÐ œ(ì#) Ðlegal€and€that€any€other€claims€made€by€the€defendant€are€barred€as€untimely€brought.€€We€affirmÐ ‚)Ò$* Ðthe€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€the€motion.Ð h*¸%+ ÐÌà  àThe€defendant€was€first€convicted€of€two€first€degree€murders€in€a€jury€trial€and€receivedÐ 4,„'- Ðconcurrent€ninety„nine„year€sentences.€€The€convictions€were€reversed€on€appeal,€òòDonald€Ô_ÔReeÔ_Ô€JonesÐ -j(.ý ÐÔ_Ôv.€Stateóó,€Wilson€County€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Nashville,€Jan.€27,€1970).€€The€defendant€states€thatÐ ° Ðupon€remand,€he€pled€guilty€pursuant€to€a€plea€agreement€and€received€a€life€sentence.€€In€contendingÐ –æ Ðthat€his€life€sentence€is€illegal,€the€defendant€relies€upon€òòNorth€Carolina€v.€Pearceóó,€395€U.S.€711,Ð |Ì Ð722„26,€89€S.€Ct.€2072,€2079„81€(1969),€which€holds€that€the€imposition€of€a€harsher€sentence€afterÐ b² Ða€successful€appeal€violates€due€process€absent€the€showing€of€a€legitimate€reason€for€the€moreÐ H˜ Ðsevere€sentence.€€The€state€responds€that€life€imprisonment€was€a€legitimate€sentencing€option€at€theÐ . ~ Ðtime€of€the€offense,€citing€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2405€(1956),€and€that€there€was€no€increase€in€theÐ  d Ðninety„nine„year€sentence€because€that€sentence€was€set€aside€on€appeal.€€The€state€misses€theÐ ú J Ðdefendantððs€point.€€However,€the€defendant€is€not€entitled€to€relief.Ð à 0 ÐÌà  àAt€the€outset,€we€observe€that€Rule€3(b),€T.R.A.P.,€does€not€permit€a€direct€appeal€of€a€trialÐ ¬ ü  Ðcourtððs€dismissal€of€a€motion€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence.€€Rule€3(b)€contemplates€an€appeal€fromÐ ’â  Ða€judgment€of€conviction,€from€an€order€denying€or€revoking€probation,€or€ð ðfrom€a€final€judgmentÐ xÈ  Ðin€a€criminal€contempt,€habeas€corpus,€extradition,€or€post„conviction€proceeding.ðð€€In€this€case,€theÐ ^®  Ðtrial€court€merely€dismissed€the€defendantððs€motion,€and€no€appeal€as€of€right€exists.€€Although€theÐ D”  Ðdefendant€does€not€seek€to€appeal€by€permission,€we€note€that€an€interlocutory€appeal€pursuant€toÐ *z  ÐRule€9,€T.R.A.P.,€and€an€extraordinary€appeal€pursuant€to€Rule€10,€T.R.A.P.,€relate€to€a€challengeÐ ` Ðto€the€interlocutory€orders€of€the€lower€court.€€In€the€present€case,€no€further€proceedings€are€pendingÐ öF Ðbefore€the€trial€court.Ð Ü, ÐÌà  àNevertheless,€a€trial€court€ð ðmay€correct€an€illegal,€as€opposed€to€a€merely€erroneous,€sentenceÐ ¨ø Ðat€any€time,€even€if€it€has€become€final.ðð€€òòState€v.€Burkhartóó,€566€S.W.2d€871,€873€(Tenn.€1978).€€AÐ ŽÞ Ðsentence€that€directly€contravenes€a€statute€is€illegal€and€void.€€òòJonathan€Stephenson€v.€HowardÐ tÄ ÐCarlton,€Wardenóó,€No.€E1998„00202„SC„R11„CD,€Johnson€County,€slip€op.€at€3€(Tenn.€Sept.€21,Ð Zª Ð2000)€(for€publication);€òòBurkhartóó,€566€S.W.2d€at€873.€€A€judgment€is€void€if€the€face€of€the€judgmentÐ @ Ðreveals€that€the€court€was€without€jurisdiction€or€authority€to€issue€it.€€€òòJonathan€Stephensonóó,€slip€op.Ð &v Ðat€3;€òòTaylor€v.€Stateóó,€995€S.W.2d€78,€83€(Tenn.€1999).€€Because€the€judgment€of€conviction€includesÐ  \ Ðboth€the€finding€of€guilt€and€the€sentence€imposed,€Tenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€32(e),€a€sentence€that€is€illegal,Ð òB Ðand€therefore€void,€renders€the€entire€judgment€of€conviction€void.€€òòóóIn€cases€arising€from€criminalÐ Ø( Ðconvictions,€the€remedy€of€habeas€corpus€relief€applies€when€the€judgment€is€void.€€òòSeeóó€òòArcher€v.Ð ¾ ÐStateóó,€851€S.W.2d€157,€164€(Tenn.€1993);€òòPassarella€v.€Stateóó,€891€S.W.2d€619,€626€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð ¤ô ÐApp.€1994).€€Thus,€the€appropriate€procedure€for€challenging€a€void€sentence€is€a€petition€for€habeasÐ Š Ú Ðcorpus€relief.€€òòJonathan€Stephensonóó,€slip€op.€at€4.€òòóó€In€fact,€we€believe€that€a€trial€court€may€have€aÐ p!À  Ðstatutorily€imposed€duty€to€òòóógrant€habeas€corpus€relief€òòsuaóó€òòsponteóó€upon€receiving€evidence€of€anÐ V"¦! Ðillegal€and€void€sentence€in€a€judicial€proceeding.€€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„21„104€(providing€thatÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€trial€court€has€a€duty€to€grant€habeas€corpus€relief€if€evidence€from€a€judicial€proceeding€revealsÐ "$r# Ðthat€a€defendant€is€illegally€imprisoned,€even€if€the€defendant€has€not€filed€a€habeas€corpus€petition).€Ð %X $ Ѐ€€Ð î%>!% Ðà  àProcedurally,€the€defendant€seeking€habeas€corpus€relief€should€apply€to€the€court€mostÐ Ô&$"& Ðconvenient€in€distance€unless€a€sufficient€reason€exists€to€apply€elsewhere.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„Ð º' #' Ð21„105.€€We€note€that€the€convicting€court€possesses€all€of€the€records€relevant€to€a€defendantððsÐ  (ð#( Ðsentence.€€Also,€the€issue€relates€to€a€void€sentence,€which€the€convicting€court€can€correct€at€anyÐ †)Ö$) Ðtime,€not€a€void€conviction€in€terms€of€the€verdict€of€guilt.€€We€believe€these€circumstances€provideÐ l*¼%* Ða€sufficient€reason€for€a€defendant€striving€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence€to€file€his€habeas€corpusÐ R+¢&+ Ðpetition€in€the€convicting€court.€€€€€€Ð 8,ˆ', Їà  àIn€the€present€case,€the€defendant€failed€to€proceed€by€means€of€a€petition€for€habeas€corpusÐ ° Ðrelief,€the€denial€of€which€could€be€directly€appealed€to€this€court.€€òòSeeóó€T.R.A.P.€3(b).€€Nevertheless,Ð –æ Ðbecause€an€illegal€sentence€may€be€corrected€at€any€time,€we€do€not€believe€that€the€defendantððsÐ |Ì Ðfailure€to€seek€habeas€corpus€relief€necessarily€deprives€him€of€appellate€review.€€A€defendant€mayÐ b² Ðpursue€appellate€review€from€the€denial€of€a€motion€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence€through€theÐ H˜ Ðcommon€law€writ€of€certiorari.€€òòState€v.€Bruce€C.€Relifordóó,€No.€W1999„00826„CCA„R3„CD,€ShelbyÐ . ~ ÐCounty,€slip€op.€at€3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€Sept.€___,€2000).€€Generally,€the€common€law€writ€ofÐ  d Ðcertiorari€is€limited€in€application€and€may€not€ordinarily€be€used€to€ascertain€the€accuracy€of€aÐ ú J Ðjudgment€issued€by€a€court€with€jurisdiction.€€òòState€v.€Johnsonóó,€569€S.W.2d€808,€815€(Tenn.€1978).€Ð à 0 ÐThat€being€said,€the€writ€properly€applies:Ð Æ   ÐÌà8  àa.€€Where€the€ruling€of€the€court€below€represents€a€fundamental€illegality.Ð’â Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àb.€€Where€the€ruling€constitutes€a€failure€to€proceed€according€to€the€essentialÐ ^®  Ðrequirements€of€the€law.ÐD” Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àc.€€Where€the€ruling€is€tantamount€to€the€denial€of€either€party€of€a€day€in€court.Ð`Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àd.€€Where€the€action€of€the€trial€judge€was€without€legal€authority.ÐÜ,Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àe.€€Where€the€action€of€the€trial€judge€constituted€a€plain€and€palpable€abuse€ofÐ ¨ø Ðdiscretion.ÐŽÞÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àf.€€Where€either€party€has€lost€a€right€or€interest€that€may€never€be€recaptured.ÐZªÐ Ð  ÐÌòòId.óó€(citations€omitted).€€This€common€law€writ€is€now€codified:€€ð ðThe€writ€of€certiorari€may€beÐ &v Ðgranted€.€.€.€in€all€cases€where€an€inferior€tribunal€.€.€.€has€exceeded€the€jurisdiction€conferred€or€isÐ  \ Ðacting€illegally,€when,€in€the€judgment€of€the€court,€there€is€no€other€plain,€speedy€or€adequateÐ òB Ðremedy.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann€ðð€27„8„101.€€€€Ð Ø( ÐÌà  àAs€we€have€noted,€the€court€may€correct€an€illegal€sentence€at€any€time.€€òòBurkhartóó,€566Ð ¤ô ÐS.W.2d€at€873.€€In€the€interest€of€justice,€the€appellate€court€may€transform€an€improperly€filedÐ Š Ú Ðappeal€into€a€petition€for€a€writ€of€certiorari.€€òòState€v.€Leathóó,€977€S.W.2d€132,€135€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð p!À  Ð1998);€òòseeóó€T.R.A.P.€36(a)€(providing€that€this€court€ð ðshall€grant€relief€on€the€law€and€the€facts€toÐ V"¦! Ðwhich€the€party€is€entitled€or€the€proceeding€otherwise€requires€and€may€grant€any€relief,€includingÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€giving€of€any€judgment€and€making€of€any€orderðð).€€We€believe€that€it€is€in€the€interest€of€justiceÐ "$r# Ðand€judicial€economy€to€treat€this€appeal€as€a€petition€for€a€writ€of€certiorari€and€to€address€the€meritsÐ %X $ Ðof€the€defendantððs€contentions€to€determine€if€we€will€grant€such€a€petition.€€In€this€regard,€we€noteÐ î%>!% Ðthat€a€sentence€is€illegal€if€it€ð ðdirectly€contravened€a€statute€in€existence€at€the€time€it€was€imposed.ðð€Ð Ô&$"& ÐòòTayloróó,€995€S.W.2d€at€85.€€€However,€a€life€sentence€for€first€degree€murder€was€authorized€at€theÐ º' #' Ðtime€the€defendant€entered€his€guilty€plea€and€remains€legal€now.€€òòMiller€v.€Stateóó,€584€S.W.2d€758,Ð  (ð#( Ð765€(Tenn.€1979);€òòTayloróó,€995€S.W.2d€at€85„6.€€Thus,€his€sentence€is€not€void.Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌà  àFurthermore,€the€defendantððs€claimed€due€process€violation,€allegedly€stemming€fromÐ R+¢&+ Ðjudicial€or€prosecutorial€vindictiveness,€does€not€relate€to€a€void€sentence.€€Such€a€constitutionalÐ 8,ˆ', Ðviolation€renders€the€sentence€voidable€not€void€and€is€therefore€properly€challenged€in€a€post„Ð ° Ðconviction€proceeding.€€òòSeeóó€òòLuttrell€v.€Stateóó,€644€S.W.2d€408,€409€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1982)€(holdingÐ –æ Ðthat€alleged€violations€of€constitutional€rights€are€addressed€in€post„conviction,€not€habeas€corpus,Ð |Ì Ðproceedings).€€This€court€has€already€determined€that€the€defendantððs€1997€habeas€corpus€petition,Ð b² Ðwhich€alleged€that€he€was€the€victim€of€judicial€and€prosecutorial€vindictiveness,€could€not€be€treatedÐ H˜ Ðas€a€post„conviction€petition€because€the€statute€of€limitations€would€bar€his€claims.€€òòDonald€R.Ð . ~ ÐJones€v.€Stateóó,€No.€03C01„9706„CR„00206,€Carter€County€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€May€5,€1999)€(no€RuleÐ  d Ð11,€Tenn.€S.€Ct.€R.,€application€filed).€€Thus,€the€trial€court€in€the€present€case€properly€found€thatÐ ú J Ðif€the€defendantððs€motion€were€a€petition€for€post„conviction€relief,€it€would€be€barred€by€the€statuteÐ à 0 Ðof€limitations€and€summarily€dismissed.Ð Æ   ÐÌà  àBased€upon€the€foregoing€and€the€record€as€a€whole,€we€decline€to€grant€an€appeal€and€affirmÐ ’â  Ðthe€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€the€defendantððs€motion€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence.Ð xÈ  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à___________________________________€Ð ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOSEPH€M.€TIPTON,€JUDGE