Opinion ID: 2440950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Improper Conduct by the Trial Court

Text: For his third point for reversal, Appellant argues that the jury was prejudiced against his case due to the trial court's improper and stern rebuke of his counsel. Appellant argues further that the trial court acted improperly by accepting a gift from the jury. During the trial, while one of Appellant's counsel, Mr. Holleman, was examining a witness, Appellee's counsel, Ms. Smith, objected. The trial court then instructed Mr. Holleman to ask his question in a hypothetical context. Mr. Holleman continued with his questioning when Ms. Smith again objected. The trial court sustained the objection. At that point, the following exchange took place between the trial court and Appellant's other counsel, Mr. Boswell: MR. BOSWELL: May I approach the bench, Your Honor? THE COURT: No, sir. MR. BOSWELL: Sir? THE COURT: No. You may ask it in a hypothetical. MR. BOSWELL: Plaintiff's [sic] move for a mistrial. THE COURT: Denied. Mr. Holleman then continued his questioning of the witness. Appellee denies that the trial court's remarks amounted to a rebuke of Appellant's counsel. Appellee maintains that the trial court had been patient with counsel for both sides and that the particular exchange of words cited by Appellant had been preceded by approximately fifty bench conferences, conducted at the requests of both parties. Remarks of a trial court do not amount to prejudicial error unless they constitute an unmerited rebuke giving the jury the impression that defense counsel is being ridiculed. Rogers v. State, 257 Ark. 144, 515 S.W.2d 79 (1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 930, 95 S.Ct. 1656, 44 L.Ed.2d 87 (1975). There is no prejudice where the record reveals that the trial judge was merely irritated at defense counsel's trial tactics. Id.; see also Echols v. State, 326 Ark. 917, 936 S.W.2d 509 (1996). From our reading of the foregoing exchange of words, it is not evident that the trial court's remarks amounted to an unmerited rebuke of Appellant's counsel. Moreover, it does not appear from the trial court's remarks that the court was even irritated with counsel. It is the trial court's duty to maintain order and proper decorum in the courtroom, which includes the ability to control the flow of the examination of witnesses and the presentation of evidence. See Rules of Professional Conduct Canon 3(B)(3); A.R.E. Rule 611. We thus conclude that the trial court's conduct was not at all improper, let alone rising to the level of the serious allegation of judicial misconduct. Appellant's next contention of misconduct involves the judge and some members of his staff receiving small gifts from the jury, namely nail clippers, files, and a penknife. Appellant was aware of the gifts during the trial because the trial court thanked the jurors for the tokens in open court, in the presence of both parties. In denying the motion for new trial, the trial court stated that the gifts were acknowledged in open court and that Appellant should have objected at that time. We agree with the trial court that Appellant should have objected at the first opportunity when the gift was brought to the attention of the parties. A contemporaneous objection is necessary in order to preserve an issue for appellate review. Callahan v. Clark, 321 Ark. 376, 901 S.W.2d 842 (1995). Appellant's failure to make a contemporaneous objection below precludes our review of the issue on appeal.