High court grants 4 transfers

The Indiana Supreme Court granted four transfers last week, though one was remanded to the state’s Court of Appeals while another came with a significant ruling about community rental restrictions.

In taking the cases, justices now have a chance to weigh in on the denial of post-conviction relief regarding a habitual offender enhancement and driving an ATV while drunk on private property.

On May 13, the high court granted transfer in State of Indiana v. Adam L. Manuwal, No. 50A05-0703-CR-182, which asks whether the trial court correctly ruled that a driver of an ATV shouldn’t be prosecuted for driving under the influence on his or her own property, pursuant to the Indiana Codes Sections 9-30-5-1 and -2.

In November, the Court of Appeals affirmed Manuwal’s motion to dismiss because he was improperly charged under the general OWI statutes, ruling that he should have been charged for violating Section 14-16-1-23 - the statute governing a defendant’s operation of an off-road vehicle while under the influence.

Justices also will consider Anthony A. Hopkins v. State of Indiana, No. 49A05-0705-PC-279. Hopkins appealed his denial for post-conviction relief, arguing the trial court failed to advise him that his guilty plea included an element of being a habitual offender and not just stipulated to the underlying felonies. Not being advised of those rights – dubbed Boykin rights – caused his guilty plea to be involuntary and unintelligent, so his plea should be vacated, Hopkins contended. The Court of Appeals reversed the post-conviction court and remanded for further proceedings, and now that decision has been vacated.

The Supreme Court also granted transfer in West Villas II of Willowridge Homeowners Association v. Edna McGlothin, No. 34S02-0805-CV-266. Click here to read IL’s coverage of the case.

Another transfer in Margaret R. and Darrell G. Smith v. JP Morgan and Litton Loan, No. 89A01-0702-CV-00094, resulted in the justices’ remanding that case to the Court of Appeals, since the lower court had denied the Smiths’ pro se motion for emergency stay from the sale of their home because of late filings and not properly following the appellate rules. Upon transfer, the Supreme Court reinstated the appeal.