Opinion ID: 2314684
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Relay Race Comment

Text: In arguing to the jury, attorneys should concentrate on facts, issues and evidence, and eschew such irrelevancies as the relay race analogy used by the prosecutor here. Harris v. United States, 131 U.S. App.D.C. 105, 108, 402 F.2d 656, 659 (1968); see Fernandez v. United States, D.C.App., 375 A.2d 484, 486 (1977). Under the case law of this jurisdiction, however, the relay race analogy cannot be considered grave misconduct. Our reversals of convictions for prosecutorial misconduct have typically reflected much more serious lapses. [43] In cases where, as here, the prosecutor has argued in effect that the jurors could best do their duty by voting to convict, we have concluded that such remarks were not prejudicial. Id. at 486 (no prejudicial misconduct where prosecutor argued that, upon recognizing their civic obligation as community representatives, jurors would vote to convict); Smith, supra at 166-67 (no prejudicial misconduct where prosecutor argued that a guilty verdict would be a matter of achievement and courage); accord United States v. Hawkins, 193 U.S. App.D.C. 366, 369 & n. 10, 595 F.2d 751, 754 & n. 10 (1978) (per curiam), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 910, 99 S.Ct. 2005, 60 L.Ed.2d 380 (1979) (no prejudicial misconduct resulted where prosecutor implied that community was relying on jury to convict drug dealers, saying, We did something about [the drug problem]. All we can do is to bring it to you and turn it over in your hands). But see United States v. Cummings, 468 F.2d 274, 277-78 (9th Cir. 1972) (misconduct was prejudicial where prosecutor commented that the case had reached the jury through system of checks and balances, only after police, prosecutors, and the grand jury had all concluded that in fact a violation ha[d] occurred and that the case should go forward). [44] Furthermore, the relay race comment did not bear on a central issue in the case. Nor was it inflammatory. Compare Villacres, supra at 427-28; United States v. Phillips, 155 U.S.App.D.C. 93, 476 F.2d 538 (1973) (per curiam). And, unlike misstatements of evidence or accusations of perjury, this rhetorical comment bore no direct relationship to the issue of guilt or innocence. Compare Dyson v. United States, D.C.App., 418 A.2d 127, 132 (1980) (statements that defense witnesses lied were prejudicial where jury's assessment of the believability of either version was dispositive of its finding of guilt or innocence); Villacres, supra at 427 (comments on inadmissible confession were prejudicial); Corley v. United States, 124 U.S.App.D.C. 351, 352, 365 F.2d 884, 885 (1966) (misstatements of evidence were prejudicial where they made the difference between a strong alibi and no alibi). The government's case against appellants, moreover, was strong. There was an eyewitness to the crimes (Bedney) and an independent identification witness (Grant). Although appellants contend that the testimony of these two witnesses was open to doubt, both witnesses made several positive identifications of each appellant. Compare Jenkins, supra at 583-85 (misconduct not prejudicial where, government's case, including eyewitness testimony, was very strong) with Dyson, supra at 132 (misconduct prejudicial where government's case consisted entirely of circumstantial evidence). In addition, any harm caused by the relay race comment was somewhat mitigated by the fact that the trial judge interrupted the prosecutor in mid-argument, cautioning him to stick to the evidence. And, at the end of closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury that statements of counsel are not evidence and that the defendants must be presumed innocent. While general instructions do not automatically blot out prejudice in every case, they are an ameliorative factor deserving of some consideration. Hawkins, supra at 370, 595 F.2d at 755; see Bates v. United States, D.C.App., 403 A.2d 1159, 1163 (1979); Fernandez, supra at 486; Jenkins, supra at 585. Furthermore, the relay race remark was contained in a one-hour-and-fifteen-minute argument which consisted almost entirely of factual review. Compare authority cited in Fernandez, supra at 486 (misconduct is prejudicial where prosecutor ignore[s] altogether the evidence and argues generalities). Finally, appellants themselves apparently attached little importance to the relay race argument at the time it was made. They did not object immediately, nor did they object during post-verdict argument when they called the missing witness argument to the court's attention. They first raised the issue in a post-verdict memorandum filed in support of the mistrial motion. See note 40 supra. Although a failure to object promptly is not dispositive of the issue of prejudice, United States v. (Wilbur) Jones, 157 U.S.App.D.C. 158, 165, 482 F.2d 747, 754 (1973); United States v. Young, 150 U.S. App.D.C. 98, 104, 463 F.2d 934, 940 (1972); United States v. Briggs, 457 F.2d 908, 911-12 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 986, 93 S.Ct. 337, 34 L.Ed.2d 251 (1972), it constitutes some evidence that appellants did not immediately perceive the challenged argument as prejudicial. See Brown v. United States, D.C.App., 383 A.2d 1082, 1085 (1978) (considering promptness of objection in determining prejudice). Cf. Cohoon v. United States, D.C.App., 387 A.2d 1098, 1100-01 (1978) (applying plain error standard in absence of objection at trial); Young, supra, 150 U.S.App.D.C. at 105, 463 F.2d at 941 (same); United States v. Briggs, supra at 912 (same). [45]