Opinion ID: 1649620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 35

Heading: Brown's appearance in shackles.

Text: ¶ 42. Brown asserts that his appearance during the trial itself was never raised. Defense counsel objected to Brown's appearance in shackles during jury selection, and the matter was raised on direct appeal where it was rejected by this Court. Brown, 690 So.2d at 286. This Court has held: [i]t is a common-law right of a person being tried for the commission of a crime to be free from all manner of shackles or bonds, whether of hands or feet, when in court in the presence of the jury, unless in exceptional cases where there is evident danger of his escape or in order to protect others from an attack by the prisoner. Whether that ought to be done is in the discretion of the court based upon reasonable grounds for apprehension. But, if the right of the accused is violated, it may be ground for reversal of a judgment of conviction. Rush v. State, 301 So.2d 297, 300 (Miss.1974)(emphasis added)(citing Marion v. Commonwealth, 269 Ky. 729, 108 S.W.2d 721 (1937)). The trial court heard testimony and found that Brown's presence in the courtroom posed a security risk. The trial judge ruled that Brown could be tried in leg shackles but that his hands should remain free so he could assist trial counsel. ¶ 43. The issue of whether Brown appeared before the jury in shackles, whether before or during trial, is essentially the same. Despite Brown's rephrasing, the issue is now procedurally barred by res judicata. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(2).