State v. Williams

The majority’s opinion affirms the trial court’s order, which dismissed the charge of felony assault on a government officer or employee against defendant. I vote to reverse and respectfully dissent.

I. Standard of Review

[T]he scope of appellate review ... is strictly limited to determining whether the trial judge’s underlying findings of fact are supported by competent evidence, in which event they are conclusively binding on appeal, and whether those factual findings in turn support the judge’s ultimate conclusions of law. Indeed, an *312appellate court accords great deference to the trial court…