Jackson v. State

Melton, Justice.

A jury convicted appellant Cecil Jackson of malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a gun during the commission of a crime on September 14, 1999, and a judgment of conviction and sentence was entered that same day. His trial counsel timely filed a motion for new trial from the judgment, but after 21 months elapsed without a ruling on the motion, counsel sought to dismiss the pending motion for new trial and to file the first notice of appeal. This Court dismissed the premature notice of appeal without prejudice on July 16, 2001, because the motion for new trial…