Opinion ID: 1060730
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pierce Judgment

Text: Defendant argues that the introduction of his conviction and redacted Order of Judgment for the first degree murder of Pierce was erroneously allowed as evidence. Smith I condemned the use of defendant's life sentence in the Pierce case as evidence in the Webb case. 755 S.W.2d at 767-69. Upon re-trial the state again failed to observe the warning in Smith I and related to the jury that the defendant had received a life sentence for the Pierce murder. On appeal in Smith II the Court again condemned this evidence and remanded for a new sentencing hearing. 857 S.W.2d at 25. Both Smith I, 755 S.W.2d at 769, and Smith II, 857 S.W.2d at 25, recognized the sentencing relevance of the Pierce conviction but not the Pierce life sentence. The trial judge conducted an extensive jury-out hearing and redacted the Pierce judgment omitting any reference to the sentence. Upon being asked if there were any objections to the redactions, defense counsel made no objection. The issue is, therefore, waived. Tenn. R.App. P. 36(a); State v. Walker, 910 S.W.2d at 386. Furthermore, the jury was specifically instructed by the trial judge not to speculate as to the significance of any redactions. The jury is presumed to have followed the instructions of the court. State v. Woods, 806 S.W.2d 205, 211 (Tenn.Crim.App.1990). The admission of the redacted judgment showing the conviction but not the sentence is in compliance with the dictates of Smith I and Smith II . This issue is without merit.