State v. Tracer

¶1 This case requires us to resolve four issues that arose after a special deputy prosecuting attorney failed to attend a pretrial hearing and a superior court judge appointed a local defense attorney to take her place. The State appealed the resulting judgment and sentence and the trial court’s refusal to vacate its appointment. Division Two of the Court of Appeals found the appointment improper and vacated the defendant’s guilty plea. We now affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.

FACTS

¶2 On May 25,2007, Richard Charles Tracer was driving a car while intoxicated.…