Opinion ID: 1866897
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Failure to Object to Court's Comments

Text: McHenry alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the court's comments made to the jury during voir dire of his second trial concerning the O.J. Simpson trial, which was then ongoing. McHenry claims that such comments were prejudicial. He alleged that the Simpson trial had become a media circus by June 1995 and that the national consensus was to convict Simpson. The record shows that the court admonished the jury to ignore the Simpson trial and stated that criticisms of the jury system resulting from that trial were overblown. The court reminded the jurors that [y]ou're simply here to decide the issue of guilt or innocence based on the evidence adduced by the State of Nebraska. In his postconviction motion, McHenry construes these comments as a call to the jury to convict. He alleged that the last sentence was an attempt by the court to have the jury ignore evidence adduced by the defense. Trial courts are to refrain from commenting on evidence or making remarks prejudicial to a litigant or calculated to influence the minds of the jury. State v. Chapman, 234 Neb. 369, 451 N.W.2d 263 (1990). However, a defendant must demonstrate that a trial court's conduct, whether action or inaction during the proceeding against the defendant, prejudiced or otherwise adversely affected a substantial right of the defendant. Id. The court's statements were made before the trial commenced, and it did not comment on the evidence presented. The court's statement that the jurors were to decide the issue of guilt or innocence based on evidence adduced by the State acknowledged that the State had the burden of proof, which burden was fully explained to the jurors at the same time that this statement was made. McHenry's claim that these comments, made during voir dire of the jury, were prejudicial is without merit, and his defense counsel's failure to object to the comments was not ineffective assistance of counsel.