People v. Burtron

On February 21, 1978, when asked to consider the deference a reviewing court should give to a trial judge’s decision to declare a mistrial, the United States Supreme Court held, inter alia, “Unless unscrupulous defense counsel are to be allowed an unfair advantage, the trial judge must have the power to declare a mistrial in appropriate cases.” Arizona v. Washington, 434 U.S. 497, 513, 54 L. Ed. 2d 717, 733, 98 S. Ct. 824, 834 (1978).

The defendant in the present case, James A. Burtron, appeals an order of the circuit court of Crawford County denying his motion to dismiss the criminal charges…