Opinion ID: 1424955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Prosecutor's Comment During Closing Argument

Text: In his closing argument, the defense counsel stated the following: Ladies and gentlemen, one of the things that the Court has told you to consider is... whether the witness might have a motive not to tell the truth. Would Jennifer have a motive to accuse Sharon? Now, consider, ladies and gentlemen, if you please, where Jennifer saw Sharon as a rival for Nicholas's attention. We heard what she said to Lori Owens. We heard from the State's bargain witness, Mr. Dobsha, that Jennifer had said that she really wanted Nicholas but Dobsha was there so she will do it with him. She saw Sharon as a rival for Nicholas's attention. In rebuttal, the State's Attorney said: The bottom line is reallyeven if you believe everything that was argued the defendant is guilty of child abuse. She had a duty to stop what was going on even if she wasn't participating in it. But why should you not believe her when she tells you that she wasn't participating in it? The number one reason why you should not believe what Sharon DeGren says is nobody, nobody in this country has more reason to lie than a defendant in a criminal trial. [Petitioner's defense attorney] told you about motives to lie. The Judge told you you can consider that. He gave a ridiculous motive for Jennifer to lie. But this defendant has every reason to lie. She is a defendant. Other reasons why you should not believe the defendant, her testimony is inconsistent with her statement. [Emphasis added.] Petitioner did not object at the time the statements were made but moved for a mistrial after closing arguments, arguing the statement contradicted the presumption of innocence afforded criminal defendants. The trial judge denied this motion. Petitioner's attorney then asked for a curative instruction that the jury disregard the statement, which the trial judge also denied. [13] In its opinion below, the Court of Special Appeals held that, although the prosecutor's comment was inappropriate, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing her to make the above comments to the jury. Petitioner argues that under this holding the intermediate appellate court found the trial court erred, and now attempts to persuade this Court that the error was not harmless. The State, on the other hand, counters that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the remedies requested by petitioner and, in any event, the comments did not prejudice petitioner. We begin our discussion with the general rule that attorneys are afforded great leeway in presenting closing arguments to the jury. Henry v. State, 324 Md. 204, 230, 596 A.2d 1024, 1037 (1991), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 972, 112 S.Ct. 1590, 118 L.Ed.2d 307 (1992); Jones v. State, 310 Md. 569, 580, 530 A.2d 743, 748 (1987), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 486 U.S. 1050, 108 S.Ct. 2815, 100 L.Ed.2d 916, sentence vacated on remand on other grounds, 314 Md. 111, 549 A.2d 17 (1988). The prosecutor is allowed liberal freedom of speech and may make any comment that is warranted by the evidence or inferences reasonably drawn therefrom. Jones, 310 Md. at 580, 530 A.2d at 748. See also Grandison v. State, 341 Md. 175, 224, 670 A.2d 398, 421-22 (1995); Oken v. State, 327 Md. 628, 676, 612 A.2d 258, 281 (1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 931, 113 S.Ct. 1312, 122 L.Ed.2d 700 (1993); Collins v. State, 318 Md. 269, 279, 568 A.2d 1, 5-6, cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1032, 110 S.Ct. 3296, 111 L.Ed.2d 805 (1990). In this regard, [g]enerally, ... the prosecuting attorney is as free to comment legitimately and to speak fully, although harshly, on the accused's action and conduct if the evidence supports his comments, as is accused's counsel to comment on the nature of the evidence and the character of witnesses which the [prosecution] produces. While arguments of counsel are required to be confined to the issues in the cases on trial, the evidence and fair and reasonable deductions therefrom, and to arguments of opposing counsel, generally speaking, liberal freedom of speech should be allowed. There are no hard-and-fast limitations within which the argument of earnest counsel must be confinedno well-defined bounds beyond which the eloquence of an advocate shall not soar. He may discuss the facts proved or admitted in the pleadings, assess the conduct of the parties, and attack the credibility of witnesses. He may indulge in oratorical conceit or flourish and in illustrations and metaphorical allusions. Wilhelm v. State, 272 Md. 404, 412-13, 326 A.2d 707, 714 (1974) (citations omitted) (second alteration in original). Despite the wide latitude afforded attorneys in closing arguments, there are limits in place to protect a defendant's right to a fair trial. See id. at 413-15, 326 A.2d at 714-15. Not every improper remark, however, necessarily mandates reversal, Hunt v. State, 321 Md. 387, 435, 583 A.2d 218, 241 (1990); Jones, 310 Md. at 580, 530 A.2d at 748; Wilhelm, 272 Md. at 415, 326 A.2d at 715, and [w]hat exceeds the limits of permissible comment depends on the facts in each case. Wilhelm, 272 Md. at 415, 326 A.2d at 715. We have said that [r]eversal is only required where it appears that the remarks of the prosecutor actually misled the jury or were likely to have misled or influenced the jury to the prejudice of the accused. Jones, 310 Md. at 580, 530 A.2d at 748. This determination of whether the prosecutor's comments were prejudicial or simply rhetorical flourish lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Grandison, 341 Md. at 225, 670 A.2d at 422; Wilhelm, 272 Md. at 413, 326 A.2d at 714-15. On review, an appellate court should not reverse the trial court unless that court clearly abused the exercise of its discretion and prejudiced the accused. Hunt, 321 Md. at 435, 583 A.2d at 241; Wilhelm, 272 Md. at 413, 326 A.2d at 714-15. Petitioner contends the trial court erred in not providing some remedy in response to the prosecutor's comments that [t]he number one reason why you should not believe what Sharon DeGren says is nobody, nobody in this country has more reason to lie than a defendant in a criminal trial and this defendant has every reason to lie. She is a defendant. Those comments, petitioner argues, effectively undermined the bedrock principle that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty because the prosecutor's comment referred to criminal defendants in general and their motives to lie, not this defendant's motives. The prosecutor's comment that criminal defendants have a motive to lie did not bear directly on petitioner's guilt or innocence. Rather, the comment was made in response to the defense counsel's comments during closing argument that the jury should not believe the State's witnesses because they had various motives to lie. The prosecutor went on, after she made her remarks at issue, to argue other motives petitioner might have to lie. This Court has held that, under certain circumstances, a prosecutor's argument during rebuttal and in response to comments made by the defense during its closing are proper. See Blackwell v. State, 278 Md. 466, 481, 365 A.2d 545, 553-54 (1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 918, 97 S.Ct. 2183, 53 L.Ed.2d 229 (1977). But see Johnson v. State, 325 Md. 511, 517, 601 A.2d 1093, 1096 (1992). The trial court evidently determined that the prosecutor's comments were not improper, at least to the extent that they did not subvert the presumption of innocence, the only ground for mistrial argued by petitioner's counsel. Given the broad discretion afforded trial courts in making such determinations, we do not believe it abused this discretion in denying petitioner's motions for mistrial and for a curative instruction. [14] Additionally, notwithstanding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioner's motions and permitting the comments, the defendant suffered no prejudice. This Court has long held that in determining whether an error prejudiced the defendant, that is, whether the error was harmless, the determinative factor ... has been whether or not the erroneous ruling, in relation to the totality of the evidence, played a significant role in influencing the rendition of the verdict, to the prejudice of the [defendant]. Dorsey v. State, 276 Md. 638, 653, 350 A.2d 665, 674 (1976). See also Evans v. State, 333 Md. 660, 679, 637 A.2d 117, 126 (1994) ([T]he mere fact that a remark made by the prosecutor to the jury was improper does not necessarily require a conviction to be set aside. Reversal is only required where it appears that the remarks of the prosecutor actually misled the jury or were likely to have misled or influenced the jury to the prejudice of the accused. (quoting Jones, 310 Md. at 580, 530 A.2d at 748)). First, the comments in this case do not rise to the level of, for example, the prosecutor's comments in Shoemaker v. State, 228 Md. 462, 469, 180 A.2d 682, 685 (1962). In that case, the prosecutor in his closing argument referred to the possibility that the defendant might receive parole if convicted. This comment, we said, might have shifted the jury's perceived responsibility in finding the defendant guilty to some other body. See also Johnson, 325 Md. at 519, 601 A.2d at 1096-97. In the case at hand, the prosecutor generalized that criminal defendants have a motive to lie. This statement is not entirely true or untrue; criminal defendants may or may not have a motive to lie. What is clear is that the statement does not imply that the defendant is not presumed innocent. Guilt or innocence may or may not have anything to do with the motive to lie. More importantly, the prosecutor continued in her rebuttal to discuss other motives petitioner had to lie. Further, although prosecutors normally cannot comment in closing argument on matters not in evidence, Evans, 333 Md. at 679, 637 A.2d at 126, the comment addressed issues raised during the case-in-chief, namely, petitioner's testimony and her motives to lie. Additionally, as we have said, prosecutors may address during rebuttal issues raised by the defense in its closing argument. See Blackwell, 278 Md. at 481, 365 A.2d at 553-54. Taken in context, the prosecutor's comments directly referred to the issue of motives to lie first raised by defense counsel; the comments were not an attempt to negate the presumption, nor did they defeat the presumption, that criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Even though the trial court declined to provide the jury with curative instructions regarding the prosecutor's comments because it perceived no error to rectify, the jury was instructed by the trial court immediately preceding closing arguments of its duties and the roles of the attorneys and the evidence. In its instructions, the court stated: As we said yesterday, Ms. DeGren comes here presumed to be innocent, not guilty, of these charges. That presumption remains with her throughout every stage of the trial and is not overcome unless you are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that she is guilty of something. The State has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That burden remains with the Government throughout the trial. The defendant is not required to prove her innocence. She isn't required to prove her innocence at all. .... Obviously you are expected to consider this case and decide it fairly and impartially and to perform that duty without bias or prejudice towards any party. You should not be swayed by sympathy, prejudice or your perception of public opinion. As we have been saying, the case has to be decided solely upon the evidence presented in the courtroom. Evidence consists of testimony that you have heard from people who have taken an oath and sat there and have been questioned.... .... The questions and the objections stated by counsel that you heard as such are not evidence either. It is the function of the lawyers, obviously, to ask questions and to raise objections in their effort to focus the evidence in the direction that they think it should go. Any comments I made here, as I have said, are not evidence. Any comments the lawyers are about to make to you are not evidence. What the lawyers have said to you already is not evidence.... .... You alone are the judge of whether witness testimony should be believed and what witness testimony should be believed. Again, in evaluating witness testimony you are expected to apply your common sense and your everyday experiences. In determining whether or not to believe what a witness has said you should carefully judge all of the testimony and the evidence and the circumstances under which a witness has testified.... Ask yourself whether a witness has a motive not to be truthful, whether the witness has an interest in the outcome of this case, whether the witness' testimony was essentially consistent, whether it was supported or contradicted by other evidence that you believe, whether and to what extent the witness' testimony in the courtroom here today was consistent with or different from statements that he may have made to other people on other occasions. [Emphasis added.] The court's instructions clearly define the jury's role, the presumptions afforded the defendant, how to consider comments by the attorneys, and how to judge witness testimony. Given the breadth of these instructions, we do not believe the prosecutor's comment during rebuttal, even if inappropriate, had any effect on the presumption of innocence or any other instructions previously given by the trial court. The jury likely understood the comment for what it was: the prosecutor's attempt to bring to light petitioner's motives to lie due to petitioner's interest in the outcome of her trial. Finally, the jury's verdict in this matter demonstrates that it was not persuaded by the prosecutor's remarks. Petitioner was charged and tried with several offenses, including rape and second degree and third degree sexual offenses, for her alleged direct involvement with the molestation of Jennifer, conspiracy, and the charges relating to her failure to prevent or stop the molestations by her husband and Rick. In her testimony, petitioner denied participating in oral sex with Jennifer or using a vibrator on the child. Petitioner admitted to most of the other instances in which Jennifer claimed petitioner was present and failed to stop the men from molesting her. The jury ultimately convicted petitioner only of the offenses in which she had admitted her presence. Evidently, the jury believed some of petitioner's testimony and disbelieved some of Jennifer's testimony because it found petitioner guilty of child abuse for her conduct relating to her failure to prevent the rapes but not for the sexual acts she allegedly committed upon Jennifer. Accordingly, given the multitude of crimes with which petitioner was charged, her own admissions, the charges with which she ultimately was convicted, and all of the other reasons discussed above, this Court does not believe the prosecutor's comments or the trial court's failure to rectify any perceived error actually prejudiced petitioner. Therefore, a reversal is not warranted under these circumstances. Several other courts have reached comparable results with respect to similar issues. See People v. Rice, 234 Ill.App.3d 12, 26, 175 Ill.Dec. 239, 599 N.E.2d 1253, 1263, 1264, appeal denied, 147 Ill.2d 635, 180 Ill.Dec. 156, 606 N.E.2d 1233 (1992) (noting that [i]t is not improper to call the defendant or a witness a `liar' if conflicts in evidence make such an assertion a fair inference and, in any event, based upon the overwhelming evidence of guilt, the defendant was not prejudiced by prosecutor's remarks); People v. Thomas, 200 Ill.App.3d 268, 276, 146 Ill.Dec. 693, 558 N.E.2d 656, 662, appeal denied, 133 Ill.2d 569, 149 Ill.Dec. 334, 561 N.E.2d 704 (1990) (reasoning that where the prosecutor's remark during closing argument about the defense counsel's failure to call a witness was invited by a similar comment from the defense counsel, the prosecutor's remark was not improper); Commonwealth v. Johnson, 527 Pa. 118, 127, 588 A.2d 1303, 1307 (1991) (holding that prosecutor's comments during closing argument that the defendant had lied were neither unfair nor prejudicial when made in response to defense counsel's comments regarding credibility of the victim, were supported by evidence, and because defense counsel clearly indicated belief that the prosecution witness was lying). See also United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 19-20, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 1048-49, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985) (holding that prosecutor's comments during rebuttal argument expressing his personal opinion about the defendant's guilt, although error, did not prejudice defendant because overwhelming evidence ... eliminates any lingering doubt that the prosecutor's remarks unfairly prejudiced the jury's deliberations.).