Case ID: or-app_88/html/0185-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      PER CURIAM", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Argued and submitted September 23,
    reversed and remanded for new trial October 28, 1987
    STATE OF OREGON, Respondent, v. NICHOLAS E. JOHNSON, Appellant.
    
    (C86-05-32370; CA A43331)
    744 P2d 600
    J. Marvin Kuhn, Chief Deputy Public Defender, Salem, argued the cause for appellant. With him on the brief was Gary D. Babcock, Public Defender, Salem.
    Thomas H. Denney, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Dave Frohnmayer, Attorney General, and Virginia L. Linder, Solicitor General, Salem.
    Before Warden, Presiding Judge, and Van Hoomissen and Young, Judges.
    PER CURIAM
   PER CURIAM

Defendant was convicted in a jury trial of robbery in the first degree. He did not testify at trial. He had requested Uniform Criminal Jury Instruction 10.14:

“A defendant has an absolute constitutional right not to testify. Therefore, a defendant’s decision not to testify cannot be considered as an indication of guilt. It should not be commented upon or in any way considered by you in your deliberation.”

The trial court did not give that instruction. Defendant contends, and the state concedes, that the failure to give the requested instruction is reversible error. We agree. State v. Hale, 22 Or App 144, 145, 537 P2d 1173 (1975).

Reversed and remanded for a new trial. 
      
       Defense counsel did not except to the court’s failure to give the requested instruction. However, the request that the instruction be given preserves the question for review. State v. Ketchum, 66 Or App 52, 55 n 3, 673 P2d 555 (1983).