Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I, Pat McNamara, Assistant District Attorney, do hereby certify that I have this date
emailed a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Motion to:
DAMON STEVENSON
Defense Attorney
damon.steven@gmail.com
BY:
. ~lU\\\~
a~ · .. IN THE SUPREME COURT m' THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
FILED
FEB 14 2018
OFFICt: 0;- 1ttc v1.c.t1K
SUPREME COURT
IN RE: DISTRICTATTORNEY OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PETITIONER
CAUSENO. J()/8-/vf-m.3..3
COMES NOW, the District Attorney for the Seventh Judicial District and
moves this Honorable Court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the Senior Circuit
Court Judge of the Seventh Judicial District to convene a hearing regarding the improper
release of defendant Nicholas Coates from custody pending grand jury action and would
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. On October 2, 2017, Coates appeared before the Hinds County Court for a
occurring on or about August 17, 2017. At the conclusion of said hearing the court
ordered Coates bound over to await action by the Hinds County Grand Jury. Bail was
2. On January 10, 2018, without notice to the District Attorney's Office or to the
County Court, in violation of Miss. Rule of Criminal Procedure 8.5(c), as well as the
Order issued by the Senior Circuit Court Judge on September 24, 2013. (Exhibit E).
Coates was summarily released from the Hinds County Detention Center without
restrictions.
a hearing on the wrongful release of the defendant Coates. That court declined to set a
hearing stating that it had lost jurisdiction in the matter with Coates release. (Exhibit
B).
4. Petitioner then moved the Senior Circuit Judge of the District to set the matter
for hearing. (Exhibit C). The only response by the Court was a sticky note attached to
the hard copy of the motion that had been hand delivered to the office of the Senior
Circuit Court Judge stating this was not the Senior Judge's case.
5. Petitioner once again moved the Senior Circuit Judge to take action, based upon
the requirements of Rule of Criminal Procedure 8.5 and the need to address the required
factors under Lee v. Lawson, 375 So. 2d 1019, 1024 (Miss. 1979); the only response
from the Court was an email stating the court could not hear the matter as filed or under
Rule 8.5( c) (Exhibit D). The email went on to state that the Petitioner should consider
6. By virtue of Rule of Criminal Procedure 8.5 the Senior Circuit Court Judge of
the District is the main arbiter of the decision to release unindicted prisoners. However,
Petitioner is being informed by the Senior Circuit Court Judge that it lacks the authority
to do what is clearly stated in the Rules of Criminal Procedure, that it, the senior court,
7. As evidenced by the Senior Circuit Court's Order dated September 24, 2013,
any incarcerated defendant not presented to the grand jury within 90 days is entitled to
a hearing before the Senior Circuit Judge. (Exhibit E). That same document requires a
prosecutor be present at a hearing to show cause why the defendant should not be
released. (Id.) The Senior Circuit Court Judge has taken away the Petitioner's right to
8. The Senior Circuit Court Judge suggests the Petitioner recall the Grand Jury as
soon as possible to remedy this situation. Petitioner asserts that the matter at hand can
Senior Circuit Court Judge to exercise a power already held by her court. The next
meeting of the Grand Jury does not take place until April 10, 2018, a date set by the
Senior Circuit Court Judge. Denial of Petitioner's right to a hearing in this matter flies
in the face of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, judicial efficiency and monetary
economy. Further, Senior Circuit Court Judge's failure to grant Petitioner's request for
hearing unjustly delays and denies victims' the right to be present and participate in the
criminal justice proceedings and the right not to be excluded from such pursuant to
Mississippi Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. Given the urgency of this matter and the
clear potential for irreparable harm, there is no other alternative remedy to this matter.
9. The Mississippi Supreme Court has held that a petitioner must prove the
following essential elements before a writ of mandamus may issue:
(1) the petitioner must be authorized to bring the suit, (2) there must be a clear right
in [the] petitioner to the relief sought, (3) there must exist a legal duty on the part of
the defendant to do the thing which the petitioner seeks to compel, and (4) there
must be no other adequate remedy at law.
Bennett v. Bd. ofSup'rs of Pearl River Cnty., 987 So. 2d984, 986 (iJ6) (Miss. 2008).
10. There is no question that the Petitioner, as the District Attorney, is authorized to
bring this action to further the safety of the community. The clear right of the Petitioner
is shown in the quoted statutes and within the Senior Circuit Court Judge's own Order,
requiring the presence of the Petitioner at all hearings before releasing an unindicted
prisoner. The legal duty of the Senior Circuit Court Judge is clear in that the statutes
and rules, as well as the Senior Circuit Court Judge's own Orders, must be followed.
The Petitioner is left with no reasonable alternative than to ask this Court to issue an
Court issue an appropriate Order to allow Petitioner to present its case to the Senior Circuit
Court Judge.
Pat McNamara
Asst. District Attorney
7th Judicial District
PO Box 22747 - Jackson Mississippi 39225-2747
Phone: 601-968-6568
FAX: 601-968-6655
pmcnamara@co.hinds.ms.us
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Pat McNamara, Assistant District Attorney, do hereby certify that I have this date
emailed a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Motion to:
DAMON STEVENSON
Defense Attorney
damon.steven@gmail.com
The above-named defendant having been brought before the County Court for a preliminary
hearing on the above charge(s), and the Court having heard testimony and been presented
evidence concerning the charged offense(s), finds that it appears that there is probable cause to
believe that an offense has been committed, to-wit: Murder, Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle
Accordingly, the above-named defendant is hereby bound over to await the action of the
grand jury.
Further:
( ) Bail is set in the amount of S. conditioned upon his/her appearance before the Circuit Court
of the First/Second Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi at the next regular tenn thereof
to answer unto said charge and to remain from day to day and term to term until discharged by
law.
() Bail is hereby denied, under MISS. CONST., Art., 3, Section 29(l)(a), as amended, as
defendant has this date been bound over to await action by the grand jury for a capital offense
where the proof is evident or presumption great.
() Bail is hereby denied, under MISS. CONST., Art., 3, Section 29(1)(b), as amended, as
defendant has this date been bound over for action by the grand jury for a capital offense and
he/she has previously been convicted of a capital offense or other offense punishable by
imprisonment for a maximum of twenty (20) years or more.
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 8 Filed: 01/30/2018 Page 7 of 9
( } Bail is hereby denied, under MISS. CONST., Art. 3, Section 29 (2), as amended, as
defendant was free on bail for a previous felony at the time of the offense herein, which has this
date been bound over for action by the grand jury and being an offense punishable by death, life
imprisonment or imprisonment for more than five (5) years, or grand larceny.
(X) Bail is hereby denied, under MISS. CONST., Art. 3, Section (29)(3), as amended, as the
offense herein, which has this date been bound over for action by the grand jury, is punishable by
imprisonment for a maximum of twenty (20} years or more by life imprisonment, and the proof
is evident or presumption great, and:
(X} the release of the defendant would constitute a special danger to another person and/or to
the community, or
Conditioned upon his/her appearance before the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of
Hinds County, Mississippi at the next regular term thereof to answer unto said charge(s) and to
there remain from day to day and tenn to term until discharged by law.
If the Defendant remains in jail without posting bond and is not served a capias after
indictment by a grand jury by January 2, 2018, he/she shall be released from custody on this
charge for lack of prosecution without further order of this Court.
A copy of this Order shall be immediately delivered to the Hinds County District
Attorney's Office and the attorney for the defendant.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COMES NOW, the State of Mississippi and moves this Honorable Court to bring
the defendant, Nicholas Coats back before this Court for Review due to Wrongful
Release, and in support thereof, the State would show unto this Court the following, to
wit:
1. In October, 2017, the State of Mississippi appeared before this court for a
Preliminary Hearing in the above referenced matter. The Court determined
that there was sufficient probable cause to bind the aforementioned matter
over to await the action of a Hinds County Grand Jury.
2. At that time, the Court made it clear that this defendant would be brought
back before the Court for review of factors under Lee v. Lawson 375 So.2d
1019.
3. A Hinds County Grand Jury met on January 8- January IO, 2018. At no time
prior to, nor during this meeting, did the District Attorney's Office have in its
possession a Grand Jury Case File for the above referenced defendant.
4. To be clear, the District Attorney's Office only received Mr. Coates file, along
with his co-defendant's files, on today, January 22, 2018 (Please see
attachments).
5. On January 10, 2018, the last day for Grand Jury presentment, this defendant
was released from the Hinds County Detention Center at 5:59 pm, without any
notice to the County Court or the District Attorney's Office.
6. The State asks this Court to review this cause, taking in to consideration the
fact that lead detective, Corey Jenkins had not completed his investigation by
the time the Grand Jury was empaneled. Moreover, the State asks this Court to
consider the fact that the District Attorney's Office did not have in its
possession the case files necessary for presentment of this matter, until this
morning, January 22, 2018.
7. Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 8.5(c),
Review by Circuit Court. No later than seven (7) days before the
commencement of each term of circuit court in which criminal cases are
adjudicated, the official(s) having custody of felony defendants being held for
trial, grand jury action, or extradition within the county (or within the county's
judicial districts in which the court term is to be held) shall provide the
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 7 Filed: 01/22/2018 Page 2 of 5
presiding judge, the district attorney, and the clerk of the circuit court the
names of all defendants in their custody, the charge(s) upon which they are
being held, and the date they were most recently taken into custody. The
senior circuit judge, or such other judge as the senior circuit judge designates,
shall review the conditions of release for every felony defendant who is
eligible for bail and has been in jail for more than ninety (90) days.
8. At no time, prior to this defendant's release, was the District Attorney's Office
given notice of hearing for review of the conditions ofrelease.
9. The prevailing legal authority in this matter, Lee v. Lawson, 375 So.2d 1019,
(1979), *1021 Article 3, Section 29 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890
reads: "Excessive bail shall not be required, and all persons shall, before
conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when
the proof is evident or presumption great." This constitutional section has
been interpreted to provide a non-discretionary right to bail before conviction
for all offenses, except those offenses punishable by death when the proof of
guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great."
10. The facts of this case, coupled with the evidence, will show that the likelihood
for conviction in this matter is great. Therefore, this defendant is not eligible
for bond.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 7 Filed: 01/22/2018 Page 3 of 5
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Shaunte' Washington, Assistant District Attorney, do hereby certify that I have this
date emailed a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Motion to Assistant
GREG SPORE
Defense Attorney
Office of the Public Defender
gspore@co.hinds.ms. us
This the 22nd day of January, 2018.
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 7 Filed: 01/22/2018 Page 4 of 5
MaJor Investigations
MEMORANDUM
To: Robert S. Smith, District Attorney
Please see below listed cases that are being submitted to the Hinds County District Attorney's
office for indictment process. After receiving and reviewing the below listed cases, If any
member of your office recognizes a potential problem with any case, please have them bring it
to my attention Immediately. Our goal is to seek a successful indictment; therefore, we will do
everything, within our power to correct or strengthen each case.
It is our goal to prepare and present each case without delay. With your cooperation and
support this can be accomplished.
Please sign below or have your designee sign, indicating receipt of the attached felony cases(s).
This sheet will .be maintained by our office in an effort to increase case tracking. I offer my
thanks, in advance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or one of
my unit super <
Delivered b ·~-4---'ii,."4.r4'u.-.a..;~----Date:__._~.,._/~
_ _,_/__ ';2{__
___
Received by:_~~,,.....U'-'<-1--c..-"'--~~.-4-.....,,,,------Date:_/f_"l_"'Z-_~_l_~-----
J
·case: 25C01:17-cr-00463.-WLS Document#: 7 Filed: 01/22/2018 Page 5 of 5
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COMES NOW, the State of Mississippi and moves this Honorable Court
to bring the defendant, Nicholas Coats before this Court for Review Due to
Wrongful Release, and in support thereof, the State would show unto this Court
court for a Preliminary Hearing in the above referenced matter. The court
determined that there was sufficient probable cause to bind the aforementioned
2. Bail was denied under Art. 3, Section (29)(3) as well as the finding of
3. At that time, the Court made it clear that this defendant would be
brought back before the Court for review of factors under Lee v. Lawson, 375
So.2d 1019.
time prior to, nor during this meeting, did the District Attorney's Office have in its
possession a Grand Jury Case File for the above referenced defendant.
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 9 Filed: 02/01/2018 Page 2 of 9
brought back before the court for review of factors under Lee v. Lawson, 375
So.2d 1019.
time prior to, nor during this meeting, did the District Attorney's Office have in its
possession a Grand Jury Case File for the above referenced defendant.
6. To be clear, the District Attorney's Office only received Mr. Coats file,
along with his co-defendant's files, on January 22, 2018 (Exhibit B).
7. On January 10, 2018, the last day for Grand Jury presentment, this
defendant was released from the Hinds County Detention Center at 5:59 pm,
without any notice to the County Court or the District Attorney's Office.
8. The State asks this Court to review this cause, taking in to consideration
the fact that lead detective, Corey Jenkins had not completed his investigation by
the time the Grand Jury was empaneled. Moreover, the State asks this Court to
consider the fact that the District Attorney's Office did not have in its possession
the case files necessary for presentment of this matter until January 22, 2018.
9. Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 8.5(c). No later than seven
(7) days before the commencement of each term of circuit court in which criminal
cases are adjudicated, the official(s) having custody of felony defendants being
held for trial, grand jury action, or extradition within the county (or within the
county's judicial districts in which the court term is to be held) shall provide the
presiding judge, the district attorney, and the clerk of the circuit court the names of
all defendants in their custody, the charge(s) upon which they are being held, and
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 9 Filed: 02/01/2018 Page 3 ot9
the date they were most recently taken into custody. The senior circuit judge, or
such other judge as the senior circuit judge designates, shall review the conditions
of release for every felony defendant who is eligible for bail and has been in jail
for more than ninety (90) days. Rule 8.4 enumerates the· 14 criteria that are
Office given notice of hearing for review of the conditions of release. The blanket
regard to any factor outside a mere counting of days, does not comport with the
Court's obligation to administer its sound reasoning and discretion for each case
11. The prevailing legal authority in this matter, Lee v. Lawson, at 1021,
states:
discretionary right to bail before conviction for all offenses, except those offenses
punishable by death when the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt
is great."
12. The facts of this case, coupled with the evidence, will show that the
Case: 25C01:17-cr-00463-WLS Document#: 9 Filed: 02/01/2018 Page 4 oL9
defendant has committed a capital offense and the likelihood for conviction in this
this Defendant's bond be revoked due to bond ineligibility, and that he be held without
bond.
The State further asks this Court expedite the hearing on the Motion to be
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Pat McNamara, Assistant District Attorney, do hereby certify that I have this
date emailed a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Motion to
DAMON STEVENSON
Defense Attqrne;r
dru:nort~stev~11@gI1iaiLconi
Mr. McNamara,
The court cannot address this matter as filed or under Rule 8.Sc. You may consider recalling the grand jury ASAP and
presenting the case for indictment. Once the case is indicted, a circuit judge will be assigned. You can then request that
the circuit judge review or reconsider Coats release.
Good Afternoon. After being notified the earlier motion was not Judge Green's case I have made some revisions to the
original motion. As the new criminal rules discuss and mandate the procedures for releasing prisoners pre-trial, it is
apparent that the Senior Circuit Judge is the final authority on such releases. Therefore, I believe the motion is properly
before the Court. I respectfully request a hearing on may be heard by the Court.
Thank you.
Pat McNamara
Hinds Co. ADA
This E-mail may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information intended only for the individual or entity
named in the message. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the agent responsible to deliver it
to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this
communication is prohibited. If this communication was received in error, please notify us by reply E-mail and delete the
original message.
2
lob
Our Mississippi Constitution states that an accused is "innocent" until proven guilty
In order to comply-with constitutional mandates against arresting and detaining individuals for
unreasonable and indefinite periods of time without formal indictment, and in accordance with
felony charge, and is held without bond or fails and is ,unable to make bail his/her case shall be
presented for indictment before a Hinds County grand jury within ninety (90) days of his date of
incarceration. Should the prosecutor fail to present said accused's case to the grand jury for
indictment within the ninety (90) day time frame, then the Prosecutor shall appear at a bond
review hearing before the senior circuit judge to show good cause why the accused should
remain incarcerated, without indictment having been issued. Any indigent accused shall be
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Hinds County District Attorney
shall, simultane s with his filing with circuit clerk, deliver to the Senior Circuit Court Judge of
Hinds Co ty and the Hinds County Sheriff a docket of all INDICTMENTS and NO BILLS.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Hinds County Sheriff shall on or
about the last day of each month, beginning the last day of October, 2013 and continuing on the
last date of every month thereafter, deliver to the Senior Circuit Judge and the Hinds County
District Attorney, a jail docket kept pursuant to Mississippi law, of all persons who are being
detained in the jails of Hinds County or who are detained in some convenient county jail
pursuant to Section 47-3-1, Miss. Code Ann. (l 97~) for more than 90 days of their arrest,
The Circuit Clerk of Hinds Countv shall send an attested copy of the herein order to the
Sheriff of Hinds County. all mayors. municipal judges and police chiefs of all citv and
towns in Hinds Countv, all members of the Hinds Countv Board of Supervisors, the
County Administrator. the Hinds Countv District Attorney and the Hinds Countv Public
Defender.
SOORDE~D~DADJU~=L
TOMIE GREEN, SENIOR CIRCUIT JUDGE