WPCd r|-A:]@/1Yi}'yıGNK&)d(|ӂRuh*S?ыAW\r ިR_FEG4v=QvPG" #' ;ynAU+F\NM\%x3]xh HeYqz;WrGAts-r$;uCC-QpYv9]= _'8`)D0v5MH" {5c80{%?LN%0zim_R7~fcdgfQǪo1wF7ԕ<"dN."w@3VnPnp@-a wT5[1u!vq5fR nNJ_tym k)!  s#}q#1G{,^l؂*# LcW % 0(U:wL"4n    0D0U:tU:U: 0" 0DbU:e 2P<U:#UN]U: B AQS 0D 0D] 0D D/ B D31HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh Y  )  .(RAMSEYJN.OPN(RAMSEYJN.OPN/  X($,rAZ"Arial RegularcEdPeEfPgEhiEjkElmEnoEpqErsEtuEvwExyEzE{|}E~UEUE[EEEEEEEE[E[EEEEE[EE[[[[E[EE[[E EPE{[DDUDUUUDDDUeDPDӀ y&+,,--../3|x   $X `   1      XcXXX X XcThecourtobservedthatonlytwoprovisionsaddressthewaiverofvenue,Tenn.R.Crim.  P.21andTenn.CodeAnn.4035214(1997).Rule21(a)allowsachangeofvenue uponmotionofthedefendant,oruponthecourtsownmotionwiththeconsentofthedefendant,ifitappearstothecourtthat,duetoundueexcitementagainstthedefendantinthecountywheretheoffensewascommittedoranyothercause,afairtrialprobablycouldnotbehad.Id.Section4035214authorizesachangeinvenue   uponthewrittenconsentofthedefendantforthepurposeofallowinghimorhertopleadguiltyinoneproceedingtochargespendinginmorethanonecounty.Thestatuteprovides,however,thatthedefendantswaiveris subjecttotheapprovalofthedistrictattorneygeneralandthecourthavingcriminaljurisdictionforeachcounty.Id.# k##XcX#(3$ !  ,  AZ"Arial Regular,  AZ"Arial Regular,cAZ"Arial Regular(8(2$ !  X `   0  (#$  0   ""  XaXXX<XXa   Ad FILEDXaX<  July19,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh - -,cAZ"Arial Regular  F $X `   1    ݀XFXXXX XFThecourtobservedthatonlytwoprovisionsaddressthewaiverofvenue.Rule21,Tennessee  RulesofCriminalProcedure,allowsachangeofvenue uponmotionofthedefendant,oruponthecourtsownmotionwiththeconsentofthedefendant,ifitappearstothecourtthat,duetoundueexcitementagainstthedefendantinthecountywheretheoffensewascommittedoranyothercause,afairtrialprobablycouldnotbehad.AndTenn.CodeAnn.4035214authorizesachangeinvenueuponthewrittenconsentofthedefendantforthepurposeofallowinghimorhertopleadguiltyinoneproceedingtochargespendinginmorethanonecounty.Thestatuteprovides,however,thatthedefendantswaiverissubjecttotheapprovalofthedistrictattorneygeneralandthecourthavingcriminaljurisdictionforeachcounty.#  a##XVHX #  $X `   1      XcXXX X XcThecourtobservedthatonlytwoprovisionsaddressthewaiverofvenue,Tenn.R.Crim.  P.21andTenn.CodeAnn.4035214(1997).Rule21(a)allowsachangeofvenue uponmotionofthedefendant,oruponthecourtsownmotionwiththeconsentofthedefendant,ifitappearstothecourtthat,duetoundueexcitementagainstthedefendantinthecountywheretheoffensewascommittedoranyothercause,afairtrialprobablycouldnotbehad.Id.Section4035214authorizesachangeinvenue   uponthewrittenconsentofthedefendantforthepurposeofallowinghimorhertopleadguiltyinoneproceedingtochargespendinginmorethanonecounty.Thestatuteprovides,however,thatthedefendantswaiveris subjecttotheapprovalofthedistrictattorneygeneralandthecourthavingcriminaljurisdictionforeachcounty.Id.# k##XcX#,  AZ"Arial Regular(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular,cAZ"Arial Regular d!"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  ((' dxdP Pd'dxd !  XXaXXXTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7aXdd7  =0Xdd= 'XX2 XX'=aXXdd=  ќ   r )<,(j 8` `@E  ` 8ttxPX  r   @MMD @@MMDINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE#XaXXXaP#XaXXXa@zz)DATKNOXVILLE t )>.*jx-o` `@EL) ` 8ttxP ( o tߛ  `     h   񀀀   p  2  FORPUBLICATION R J   `     h      p  2    x   (# ̀ 񀀀  2 Filed:JulyJuly19,1999_____________  (#  $  JAMESN.RAMSEY,District    ) p  2    AttorneyGeneral,Seventh    )   JudicialDistrict,   h     )    `     h     ) `  Appellee, h     ) p  2 ROANECHANCERY#XaXXXa#XaXXXa (#     `     h     ) `     h     ) p  tl  `     h     )Vs. `     h     ) p  2 HON.FRANKV.WILLIAMS,III#XaXXXaߞ #XaXXXa, @8  `     h     ) p 񀀀X  XCHANCELLOR#XaXXXa #XaXXXa &  `     h     ) p     `     h     ) p  2    x   (#    `     h     )#XaXXXa #XaXXXa  TOWNOFOLIVERSPRINGS,A   p ) 2  2 NO.03S019708807CH00321073#XaXXXa߱#XcXXXc#XcXXXco#XaXXXa  MunicipalCorporationunderthe    ) p  2   LawofTennessee,et.al., h     )   `     h     ) `  Appellants. h     ) VN #XaXXXa #XaXXXa `     h      p #XaXXXaS#XaXXXa ForAppellants:   h   񀀀   p  2 ForAppellee:  $! JamesRM.Webster#XaXXXa#XaXXXa   h      p  2 JohnKnoxWalkup &# OakRidge,Tennessee#XaXXXam#XaXXXa h      p  2 AttorneyGeneral&Reporter#XaXXXa0#XaXXXa r'j $  `     h      p c  cd 2 dMichaelE.Moore `     h      p e  ef 2 fSolicitorGeneral `     h      p  2 GordonW.Smith `     h      p  2 AssociateSolicitorGeneral `     h      p  2 Nashville,Tennessee#XaXXXa#XaXXXa `     h    /(- 񀀀     p  2    x   (#  T1L*/  `     h      p   @)DctXXa OPINION #XaXct#Ԉ  4-2 COURTOFAPPEALSAFFIRMED   p  2   ANDERSON,C.J.  ;4:w 7  XXdXd7#XaXXXaK# XXXXa ` WegrantedthisappealtodeterminewhethertheCityCourtfortheTownof  OliverSprings,whichsitsinRoaneCounty,Tennessee,mayproperlyadjudicateacriminalcaseinwhichtheoffensewascommittedinAndersonCounty.     ` TheDistrictAttorneyGeneralforAndersonCountybroughtthisdeclaratoryjudgmentactionagainstthegtghThownofOliverSpringsseekingajudgmentthattheitikjTjkltlownspolicyandpracticeofprosecutingAndersonCountycasesinRoaneCountyisillegal.PortionsoftheTownofOliverSpringsarelocatedinthreedifferentcounties,Anderson,Roane,andMorgan,butOliverSpringsmcmsnCnstctityocoqpCpqrcrourtisphysicallylocatedinRoaneCounty. ` TheChancellorheldthatthecitycourtwasauthorizedtoadjudicatesuchcasespursuantto1994Tenn.Priv.Acts,uCuvcvh.137,1,providedthatadefendantwaivewdwxsxtheconstitutionalrighttobetriedinthecountywheretheoffenseiscommitted.TheCourtofAppealsreversed,holdingthatadefendantdoesnothaveanunqualifiedrighttowaivevenueandthattheTownofOliverSpringsapplicationofthePrivateActimpededtheDistrictAttorneyGeneralsdutytoprosecutecrimescommittedinAndersonCounty. ` WeagreewiththeCourtofAppealsthattheTownofOliverSpringspolicyandpracticepursuanttothePrivateActisunconstitutionalasappliedinthiscasebecauseitimpedestheDistrictAttorneyGeneralsconstitutionalandstatutoryobligationtoprosecuteoffensescommittedinAndersonCounty.Tenn.Const.art.VI,5.WethereforedonotreachtheissueofadefendantsrighttowaivevenueunderTenn.Const.art.I,9.TheCourtofAppealsjudgmentisthereforeaffirmed,butuponthesinglegroundstatedherein. @hh*D BACKGROUND  704  ` Afterthedeclaratoryjudgmentactionwasfiled,ahearingwasheldbeforethe Chancellorinwhichy,ythepartiesstipulatedtothefollowing: ` 8 ThattheTownofOliverSpringsincludesportionsofAnderson,RoaneandMorganCounties.  (# (#  ` 8 ThatthephysicallocationoftheCityCourtforOliverSpringsisinRoaneCounty.  (# (#  ` 8 ThatthedulyelectedJudgeoftheCityCourtforOliverSpringsisDefendantJosephVanHook.ThatthedulyelectedDistrictAttorneyGeneralforAndersonCounty,whichistheSeventhJudicialDistrict,isPlaintiffJamesN.Ramsey.  (# (#  ` 8 ThatDefendantGrantLoweisPoliceChieffortheTownofOliverSpringsandChiefLowebringspersonschargedintheAndersonCountyportionofOliverSpringsbeforeJudgeJoeVanHooksittingasaCourtinRoaneCounty.  (# (#  ` 8 ThatJosephVanHookasJudgeoftheCityCourtforOliverSpringshaspresidedasaJudgewithGeneralSessionsCourtfor[sic]criminaljurisdictionsittinginRoaneCountyovercriminalchargeswhicharoseintheAndersonCountyportionofOliverSpringsovertheobjectionofthePlaintiffDistrictAttorneyforAndersonCounty.  (# (#  ` 8 ThatwaiversofvenuehavenotbeenobtainedfromalloftheDefendantschargedwithcommittingcrimesinAndersonCountywhoappearedbeforeCourt.ThattheCourtnowrequiresa waiverofvenuebeforeacceptingguiltypleas.  (# (#  ` 8 ThattheDefendants,absentarulingfromaCourtofcompetentjurisdiction,intendpursuantto1994Tenn.PrivateActs,Ch.127[sic]tocontinueexercisingthecriminaljurisdictionforaSessionsCourtintheCityCourtofOliverSpringslocatedinRoaneCountyoverchargesofcrimescommittedinAndersonCounty.  (# (#  ` Inthehearing,JamesRamsey,theDistrictAttorneyGeneralfortheSeventhJudicialDistrict,objectedtotheprosecutionofoffensescommittedinAndersonCountyintheCityCourtsittinginRoaneCounty.HearguedthatoffensescommittedinAndersonCountymustbeprosecutedinAndersonCounty,andthatthepolicyandpracticefollowedbytheTownofOliverSpringsimpededhisabilitytodischargetheresponsibilitiesofhisoffice.TheDistrictAttorneyGeneralalsoarguedthatadefendantdoesnothaveanunqualifiedrighttowaivevenue. ` TheTownofOliverSpringsrespondedbyrelyingupon1994Tenn.Priv.ActszCz{c{h.137|,|1,whichstatesinpart:}}~~ X9P28 8 ` (d) TheCityJudgeshallbevestedwithconcurrentjurisdictionwith  courtsofgeneralsessionsforviolationsofcriminallaws,andshalltryalloffensesagainstthepeaceanddignityofthetownofOliverSprings. @!  ` (#` (# 8 ` (e) TheCityJudgeshallalsohavejurisdictioninandoverallcases   arisingunderthestatelawsandordinancesofthetownofOliverSpringsandallcasesrelativetotheviolationofsuchlawsandordinancesandoffensesagainstthestateorthetownofOliverSprings. ` (#` (# ,k2 ` (#` (# Id.OliverSpringsdefendeditspracticeunderthePrivateActandarguedthata   defendantmayproperlywaivetherighttovenueunderTenn.Const.art.I,9.TheChancelloragreedandupheldthepracticeoftryingAndersonCountycasesinthecitycourtinRoaneCountyunderthePrivateAct.=cXXdXXd= ` Onappeal,theCourtofAppealsobservedthatthePrivateActwasconstitutionalonitsface.TheCourtofAppealsconcluded,however,thatadefendantdoesnothaveanabsoluterighttowaivevenue  #  1      andthatprosecutingAndersonCountycasesinthe ~v citycourtlocatedinRoaneCountyimpingedupontheDistrictAttorneyGeneralsobligationtodischargethefunctionofhisofficebyprosecutingoffensescommittedinhisdistrict. ` WegrantedtheTownofOliverSpringsapplicationforpermissiontoappeal.@JJ+D ANALYSIS * #'  ` ADistrictAttorneyGeneralisanelectedconstitutionalofficerwhosefunctionis +$) toprosecutecriminalcasesinitshisorhercircuitordistrict.E.g.,Statev.SuperiorOil, -&+ Inc.,875S.W.2d658,660(Tenn.1994).  p  TheTennesseeConstitutionstatesinpart: v/n(-  B1:*/ 8 ` AnAttorneyfortheStateforanycircuitordistrict,forwhichaJudgehavingcriminaljurisdictionshallbeprovidedbylaw,shallbeelectedbythequalifiedvotersofsuchcircuitordistrict....InallcaseswheretheAttorneyforanydistrictfailsorrefusestoattendandprosecuteaccordingtolaw,theCourtshallhavethepowertoappointanAttorneyprotempore. ` (#` (# T= ` (#` (# Tenn.Const.art.VI,5. ` ThelegislaturehascodifiedmanyoftheDistrictAttorneyGeneralsdutiesandresponsibilities.Foremostamongthemisthat [e]achdistrictattorneygeneral...[s]hallprosecuteinthecourtsofthedistrictallviolationsofthestatecriminalstatutesandperformallprosecutorialfunctionsattendantthereto,includingprosecutingcasesinamunicipalcourtwherethemunicipalityprovidessufficientpersonneltothedistrictattorneygeneralforthatpurpose.Tenn.CodeAnn.87103(1)(Supp..1998).TheDistrictAttorneyGeneralsdiscretiontoseekawarrant,presentment,information,orindictmentwithinitsdistrictisextremelybroadandsubjectonlytocertainconstitutionalrestraints.SuperiorOil,875S.W.2dat660;Dearbornev.State,575S.W.2d259,262 0 ( (Tenn.1978);Quillenv.Crockett,928S.W.2d47,5051(Tenn.Crim.App.1995). !  ` TheDistrictAttorneyGeneralandonlytheDistrictAttorneyGeneralcanmakethedecisionwhethertoproceedwithaprosecutionforanoffensecommittedwithinhisorherdistrict.AsweobservedinSuperiorOil: ,)$"& 8 ` [T]herearenostatutorycriteriagoverningtheexerciseoftheprosecutorialdiscretiontraditionallyvestedintheofficerindeterminingwhether,when,andagainstwhomtoinstitutecriminalproceedings.Insteadeed,ithasbeenoftenrecognizedthat prosecutorialdiscretioninthechargingprocessisverybroad.Solongastheprosecutorhasprobablecausetobelievethattheaccusedcommittedanoffense,thedecisionwhethertoprosecute, \0T). andwhatchargetobringbeforeagrandjurygenerallyrestsentirelywithinthediscretionoftheprosecution....(2 +0` (#` (#  ` 875S.W.2dId.at660(emphasisadded)(citationfootnotesomitted).Similarly,inDearbornev.State,theofficeof 4-3 DistrictAttorneyGeneralwasdescribedasfollows:8 ` [TheDistrictAttorneyGeneral]isanswerabletonosuperiorandhasvirtuallyunbridleddiscretionindeterminingwhethertoprosecuteandfor >:639 whatoffense.Nocourtmayinterferewith[the]discretiontoprosecute,andintheformulationofthisdiscretecision,heorsheisanswerabletonoone.InaveryrealsensethisisthemostpowerfulofficeinTennesseetoday.Itsresponsibilitiesareawesome;thepotentialforabuseisfrightening. ` (#` (# 575S.W.2dId.at262(quotingPacev.Smithtate,,566S.W.2d861,867(Tenn.1978)(Henry,C.J., l d concurring)).Wereitotherwise,prosecutorialdiscretionwouldrestnotwiththeDistrictAttorneyGeneral,butwithpoliceofficerswhomayarrestwithorwithoutawarrantdependingonthecircumstances.Thisis,infact,preciselytheharmcreatedbythepolicyandpracticeemployedbytheTownofOliverSprings. ` InSuperiorOil,wecommentedonthebroadprosecutorialdiscretioninherentin 4, theconstitutionalofficeofDistrictAttorneyGeneralinaddressingtheconstitutionalityoftheWaterQualityControlActof1977.TheActrequiredthataDistrictAttorneyGeneraloragrandjuryobtainthepermissionoftheWaterQualityControlBoardortheCommissioneroftheDepartmentofHealthandEnvironmentbeforeissuingawarrant,presentmentorindictmentchargingaviolationoftheAct.Weconcluded:8 ` Theeffectof...requiringthatthedistrictattorneygeneralobtainwrittenauthorizationfromeithertheBoardortheCommissionerbeforeissuingawarrantorseekinganindictmentforacriminalviolationoftheWaterQualityControlActof1977,istopartiallydivestthedistrictattorneygeneralofthebroadprosecutorialdiscretionandawesomeresponsibilityinherentintheconstitutionaloffice.AlthoughtheGeneralAssemblymayenactlawsprescribingoraffectingthe proceduresforthepreparationof F(>!% indictmentsorpresentments,,itcannotenactlawswhichimpedethe ,)$"& inherentdiscretionandresponsibilitiesoftheofficeofdistrictattorneygeneralwithoutviolatingArticleVI,5oftheTennesseeConstitution.*#(` (#` (# SuperiorOil,Inc.,875S.W.2dat661(secondemphasisadded)()f(footnoteomitted). -&+ Accordingly,weheldthatthisportionoftheActwasunconstitutional. ` WeagreewiththeCourtofAppealsthatthePrivateAct,asappliedbytheTown 3,1 ofOliverSprings,violatedTenn.Const.article.VI,5.ThePrivateAct,whilefaciallyvalid,servedasthebasisuponwhichtheTownofOliverSpringsprosecutedoffensescommittedinAndersonCountyinacitycourtlocatedinRoaneCounty.WhentheActwasappliedinthismanner,i.e.,allowingtheOliverSpringsPoliceChieftotake >:639 defendantswhohaveallegedlycommittedcrimesinAndersonCountybeforetheCcityCcourtinRoaneCounty,OliverSpringsspolicyandpracticeimpededtheconstitutionalandstatutoryobligationoftheDistrictAttorneyGeneralforAndersonCountytodischargethedutiesofhisoffice.WeagreewiththeintermediatecourtthatsuchanimpedimentviolatesTenn.Const.art.VI,5.WethereforedonotreachthewaiverissueandaffirmtheCourtofAppealsjudgmentonthegroundsstated.@*D CONCLUSION     ` WeconcludethattheTownofOliverSpringsapplicationof1994PrivateAct,ch. h` 137,1,whichpermitsoffensescommittedinAndersonCountytobeheardinthecitycourtlocatedinRoaneCounty,violatesTenn.Const.art.VI,5.WeaffirmthejudgmentoftheCourtofAppealsonthatground.Costsoftheappealshallbepaidbytheappellants,forwhichexecutionshallissueifnecessary. `     h     ___________________________________ `     h     RILEYANDERSON,CHIEFJUSTICE Concur: #   Drowota,Birch,HolderandBarker,JJ. $!