State v. French

*597¶1

C. Johnson, J.

This case involves the issue of whether the common law fugitive disentitlement doctrine applies where a defendant absconds after conviction but before sentencing. If the doctrine applies, a defendant has waived his or her right to appeal the conviction, and we do not need to address any claimed trial court errors relating to James French’s convictions. If the doctrine does not apply, we must address the issues pertaining to both French’s convictions and sentence.

¶2 The issues include: (1) whether the trial court erred when it declined to reopen the case for the purpose of…