Ronnie Williams v. State

Ronnie Williams challenges the trial judge’s order vacating a predecessor judge’s order suppressing evidence, eventually leading to his conviction for, among other charges, possession of cocaine. Williams argues that the trial court strayed from its role as a neutral arbiter in sua sponte reconsidering the predecessor judge’s suppression order. We must agree and reverse.

In the events leading up to the charges, law enforcement officers approached Williams outside of a market where they were authorized to issue trespass warnings. A detective asked Williams for identification, ran a check for…