State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308 (Tenn. 1986). · Go Syfert
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308 (Tenn. 1986). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
74 citation events (54 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1991 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1991 2008 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 31 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Tony Dale Crass
unknown court · 2022 · confidence medium
“The decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Stephen D. Anderson (2×) also: Cited "see"
unknown court · 2021 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Alfred Lee Boykin, III (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Dismissal under Rule 48 for unnecessary delay “can be with or without prejudice.” State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310-11 (Tenn. 1986) (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Rontavious S. Ferguson and Tramon T. Key (2×)
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
When it is found to be appropriate to dismiss with prejudice, the trial judge must make express findings of fact on each of the relevant factors listed herein. 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Danielle Chandria Jensen
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
Initially, we recognize that “[t]he decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Tyler G.
Tenn. Ct. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
To be sure, Tennessee courts have inherent power to control their own dockets, see State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn. 1986), to enforce their judgments, see State ex rel.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Marchello Karlando Gossett
unknown court · 2017 · confidence medium
Dismissal under this rule is not for a constitutional violation but relates to the trial court’s inherent authority over its “own jurisdiction and docket.” State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn. 1986).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Baxter Bailey Investments LLC v. APL Limited Inc.
Tenn. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
To be sure, Tennessee courts have inherent power to 9 control their own dockets, see State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn.1986), to enforce their judgments, see State ex rel.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Alethea Dean-Hayslett, as surviving widow of Jerry Hayslett v. Methodist Healthcare
Tenn. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
To be sure, Tennessee courts have inherent power to control their own dockets, see State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn.1986), to enforce their judgments, see State ex rel.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Gai D. Kuot
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
Rule 48(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that the trial court may dismiss the indictment “[i]f there is unnecessary delay in presenting the charge to a grand jury against a defendant who has been held to answer to the trial court, or if there is unnecessary delay in bringing a defendant to trial.” “The decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Ahmad R. Manning, Alias
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn.1986).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. William Crayton
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2012 · confidence medium
State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Kimberly Mangrum
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Clifford Edward Clark, Alias
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
“The decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Tracey C. Clark
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769-70 (Tenn. 2000) (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Christopher Carney and Anthony Mitchell
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
Benn, 713 S.W.2d at 310 (citations omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Bradley Noble
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
“The decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” Harris, 33 S.W.3d at 769 (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Casey Austin
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2005 · confidence medium
Id. at 311 (emphasis added).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State Ex Rel. Brum v. Bradley (2×)
W. Va. · 2003 · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Stoker, 522 F.2d 576, 580 (5th Cir.1975) (dismissal order based on non-constitutional ground and not stating dismissal is “with prejudice” means it is “without prejudice”); United States v. Clay, 481 F.2d 133, 135 (7th Cir.1973) (footnotes omitted) (noting that a “dismissal may rest on a non-constitutional ground ... and normally such a dismissal is without prejudice to a subsequent prosecution.”); State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn.1986) (similar).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State of Tennessee v. Antonius Harris
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986).
cited Cited as authority (rule) STATE of Tennessee v. Kermit PENLEY, Jama Penley
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
Moreover, we are cognizant of an “inherent common law power of [a] trial court to control its own jurisdiction and docket.” See State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn.1986).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Harris
Tenn. · 2000 · confidence medium
State v. Bern, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn.1986) (discussing dismissal of indictments by the trial court under Tenn.R.Crim.P. 48(b)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Elizabeth Davis
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2000 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986); State v. Jones, No. 01C01-9212-CR-00384, 1993 WL 345544 , at *1 (Tenn. Crim.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Harris
Tenn. · 2000 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986) (discussing dismissal of indictments by the trial court under Tenn. R.
examined Cited as authority (rule) State v. Steve Paige (3×) also: Cited "see"
Tenn. Crim. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
ANALYSIS Rule 48(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure states that the trial court may dismiss the indictment “[i]f there is unnecessary delay in presenting the charge to a grand jury against a defendant who has been held to answer to the trial court, or if there is unnecessary delay in bringing a defendant to trial.” -2- Relying upon State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986), our supreme court has recently reiterated that “[t]he decision whether to dismiss an indictment lies within the discretion of the trial court.” State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tenn. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Walde v. State (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tenn. Crim. App. · 1997 · confidence medium
State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Jones
Vt. · 1991 · confidence medium
See State v. Lopez, 99 N.M. 385, 388 , 658 P.2d 460, 463 (Ct. App. 1983); State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 310 (Tenn. 1986).
cited Cited "see" State of Tennessee v. William Eugene Moon
unknown court · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986).
cited Cited "see" State of Tennessee v. Paul Thomas Welch, Jr.
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2019 · signal: see · confidence high
See Harris, 33 S.W.3d at 769 -70 (citing State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986)); see also Tenn. R.
discussed Cited "see" State of Tennessee v. Charles Beaty
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn. 1986) (concluding that the trial court‟s erroneous dismissal with prejudice was not subject to review when the State had not appealed the decision but had chosen to reindict).
discussed Cited "see" State of Tennessee v. Angela M. Merriman
Tenn. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Benn, 713 S.W.2d 308, 311 (Tenn.1986) (applying an abuse of discretion standard to a trial court’s decision to dismiss an indictment under Rule 48(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure); State v. Harris, 33 S.W.3d 767, 771-72 (Tenn.2000) (applying an abuse of discretion standard to a trial court’s decision to dismiss a superseding indictment).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
STATE of Tennessee, Appellee,
v.
Curtis J. BENN, Appellant
Tennessee Supreme Court.
Jul 14, 1986.
713 S.W.2d 308
W.J. Michael Cody, Atty. Gen. & Reporter, Jerry L. Smith, Deputy Atty. Gen., Nashville, for appellee., Mark T. Smith, Harsh & Kelly, Gallatin, F. Dulin Kelly, Kelly & Jones, Henderson-ville, for appellant.
Fones, Brock, Cooper, Harbi-Son, Drowota.
Cited by 32 opinions  |  Published

OPINION

FONES, Justice.

We granted this Rule 11 application to determine the authority of a trial judge under T.R.Crim.P. 48(b) to dismiss an indictment for unnecessary delay that falls short of constitutional proportions and under what circumstances such dismissal should be with or without prejudice.

I.

Defendant, Benn, was indicted for possession of marijuana with intent to resell. On the morning of trial, June 30, 1983, defendant advised the court that contrary to a local rule that he had invoked requiring the State to advise defendant of the names and addresses of witnesses, that at 4:00 p.m. on the preceding day the State had given notice that two additional witnesses would be called and a third witness was added that morning. The State responded that the three witnesses were chain of custody witnesses and that defendant had been notified as soon as it was known that it would be necessary to call the three witnesses. A witness whose name had been furnished defendant, Detec[*310] tive Mikels, was temporarily out of the State and his partner, Detective Badacour, who presumably would be giving the same testimony as Detective Mikels, was one of the three new witnesses.

Without any inquiry whatsoever as to how defendant would be prejudiced by the calling of the three chain of custody witnesses, the trial judge summarily advised the State that they would not be allowed to use any one of the three witnesses and denied the State’s request for a continuance. When the State announced that it could not proceed, defendant moved for dismissal of the case, which motion was granted, and an order was entered dismissing all charges against defendant Benn, with prejudice.

No appeal was taken from the order dismissing the charges with prejudice, but on August 3, 1983, a new indictment was returned by the Grand Jury charging defendant Benn with the same offense that had theretofore been dismissed with prejudice. Defendant moved to dismiss the second indictment on the grounds that the first indictment had been taken from the order of dismissal and it was a final disposition of the case. The trial court granted that motion and dismissed the second indictment.

The Court of Criminal Appeals reversed, one member of the panel dissenting. The majority held that T.R.Crim.P. 48(b) authorized trial judges to dismiss an indictment for unnecessary delay, but declined to rule on whether it authorized a dismissal with prejudice. After observing that the “appropriate” procedure would have been an appeal of the trial judge’s action in dismissing the first indictment with prejudice, the intermediate court held that the propriety of that dismissal was a “necessary adjunct” of the issue before the court on this appeal from the dismissal of the second indictment.

The dissenting judge held that the dismissal of the first indictment may have been irregular but was not void, and that thirty days after entry, when it became final, it was invulnerable to collateral attack.

II.

Rule 48(b), Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, governs the right of a trial judge to dismiss a prosecution for unnecessary delay in bringing a defendant to trial. It is identical to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 48(b) and reads as follows:

RULE 48. DISMISSAL
(a) By State. ....
(b) By Court. If there is unnecessary delay in presenting the charge to a grand jury against a defendant who has been held to answer to the trial court, or if there is unnecessary delay in bringing a defendant to trial, the court may dismiss the indictment, presentment, information or complaint.

There are no published Tennessee cases construing this rule. The federal courts hold that Rule 48(b) grants trial courts authority to dismiss a case for want of prosecution, whether or not there has been a constitutional speedy trial violation; that the rule is derived from the inherent common law power of the trial court to control its own jurisdiction and docket. United States v. Simmons, 536 F.2d 827 (9th Cir.1976); United States v. Stoker, 522 F.2d 576 (10th Cir.1975); Mann v. United States, 304 F.2d 394, (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 371 U.S. 896, 83 S.Ct. 194, 9 L.Ed.2d 127 (1962). A dismissal pursuant to Rule 48(b) can be with or without prejudice but a dismissal on a non-constitutional ground is normally without prejudice to a subsequent reindictment and prosecution. United States v. Simmons, supra; United States v. Stoker, supra; and United States v. Furey, 514 F.2d 1098 (2nd Cir.1975). Dismissal with prejudice for want of prosecution, not arising from a constitutional violation should be utilized with caution and only after a forewarning to prosecutors of the consequences. United States v. Simmons, supra; United States v. Hattrup, 763 F.2d 376 (9th Cir.1985); United States v. Clay, 481 F.2d 133 (7th Cir.),[*311] cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1009, 94 S.Ct. 371, 38 L.Ed.2d 247 (1973).

The factors to be considered in passing on a motion to dismiss under Rule 48(b) where there has been no constitutional violation are the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the prejudice to defendant, and waiver by the defendant. Of course, these are the same factors that determine a speedy trial constitutional violation, except for the factor of a defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial. When it is found to be appropriate to dismiss with prejudice, the trial judge must make express findings of fact on each of the relevant factors listed herein.

We adopt the principles heretofore stated as appropriate in applying Rule 48(b) to criminal cases in this State. [1]

III.

Tested by the foregoing principles, the trial judge’s action in this case in denying the motion of the State for a continuance after erroneously failing to allow the use of the three witnesses was an abuse of discretion. If he had merely dismissed the action without prejudice it would have been a greater abuse of discretion. His dismissing of this action with prejudice was a significantly greater abuse of discretion than any of the foregoing. However, that erroneous, reversible action is not subject to review in this case.

A dismissal with prejudice under Rule 48(b) in the federal courts, for unnecessary delay not amounting to a constitutional violation, bars all further prosecution for the same offense. See Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure, 2nd ed., § 814. We are of the opinion that the rule should be given the same interpretation in Tennessee. There would be no purpose in authorizing a dismissal with prejudice if it did not have that result. Of course, a dismissal of a prosecution with prejudice is subject to review upon a T.R.A.P. 3 appeal by the State.

It follows that the dismissal of the first indictment in this case was a bar to further prosecution for that offense when it became final following the State’s failure to prosecute a timely appeal. The only issue that can be determined by the appellate courts in this case is the propriety of the dismissal of the second indictment. It was properly dismissed on the ground that the prior dismissal was with prejudice, was a final judgment, and a bar to further prosecution for the same offense.

The judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals is reversed and that of the trial court dismissing this case affirmed. Costs are adjudged against the State.

BROCK, C.J., and COOPER, HARBI-SON and DROWOTA, JJ., concur.
1

. Rule 41 Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure controls the dismissal of civil actions.