ELLISON v. STATE (2008)

The appellant, Michael Ellison, appeals from the trial court's ruling that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain Ellison's motion to withdraw his guilty plea due to the fact that the term of court in which the plea was entered had expired.   We conclude that the trial court did not err.   Although Ellison urges this Court to abandon the term-of-court rule on which the trial court based its ruling, we decline to do so.   We have affirmed the rule on numerous occasions,¹ and have recently upheld it against a constitutional challenge.²  Moreover, contrary to Ellison's contention, the authority granted to trial courts by OCGA § 17-10-1(f) to modify sentences “within one year of the date upon which the sentence is imposed” does not, on its face, include the power to vacate the conviction on which the sentence is based.³

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court's ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain Ellison's motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

Judgment affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Smith v. State, 283 Ga. 376, 659 S.E.2d 380 (2008);  Boone v. State, 281 Ga. 887, 644 S.E.2d 136 (2007);  Logan v. State, 281 Ga. 884, 644 S.E.2d 136 (2007);  Turner v. State, 281 Ga. 435, 436, 637 S.E.2d 384 (2006);  Smith v. State, 281 Ga. 195, 637 S.E.2d 42 (2006);  Brown v. State, 280 Ga. 658, 631 S.E.2d 687 (2006);  Rubiani v. State, 279 Ga. 299, 612 S.E.2d 798 (2005);  Henry v. State, 269 Ga. 851, 853, 507 S.E.2d 419 (1998).

2.   Smith v. State, 283 Ga. 376, 659 S.E.2d at 381-82.

3.   OCGA § 17-10-1(f) provides, in full, as follows:Within one year of the date upon which the sentence is imposed, or within 120 days after receipt by the sentencing court of the remittitur upon affirmance of the judgment after direct appeal, whichever is later, the court imposing the sentence has the jurisdiction, power, and authority to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed.   Prior to entering any order correcting, reducing, or modifying any sentence, the court shall afford notice and an opportunity for a hearing to the prosecuting attorney.   Any order modifying a sentence which is entered without notice and an opportunity for a hearing as provided in this subsection shall be void.   This subsection shall not limit any other jurisdiction granted to the court in this Code section or as provided for in subsection (g) of Code Section 42-8-34.

SEARS, Chief Justice.

All the Justices concur.