Perkins v. State

Fletcher, Chief Justice.

The question in this case is whether a criminal defendant’s prior conviction by a court lacking subject matter jurisdiction bars retrial of that defendant in a court having subject matter jurisdiction. We hold that it does not, and therefore affirm the superior court.

This is the second time this case has been before this Court.1 On November 2, 2000, William Thomas Perkins was involved in an automobile collision that resulted in the death of Brenda Crider. Perkins was cited for reckless driving, and pled guilty to this offense in Whitfield County Probate Court. The…