People v. Torkelson

Opinion by

Judge TAUBMAN.

In this appeal by defendant, Gary Torkel-son, the threshold issue is whether the county court judge who accepted the jury's verdict had jurisdiction to do so in the absence of the assigned district court judge. We conclude that he did not, reverse defendant's conviction, and remand for a new trial.

In July 1997, defendant directly appealed his conviction entered upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. In his appeal, defendant asserted that his conviction should be reversed because neither the chief judge of the…