Opinion ID: 2681019
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: “Anti-CSI Effect” Jury Instruction

Text: At a pretrial hearing on motions to suppress, the circuit court and the parties discussed proposed voir dire questions. Hall objected to a proposed voir dire question regarding whether jurors could convict without scientific evidence. The prosecutor responded that Hall’s counsel might argue to the jury that the lack of DNA or fingerprinting evidence would necessitate an acquittal. The circuit court stated: “I’ve been known to give a jury instruction based on the State’s request pertaining to scientific evidence. . . . I would be happy to give that instruction, but I’m not going to ask the question about following the law.” Prior to jury selection, the State again proposed that the circuit court ask during voir dire whether jurors could convict without scientific evidence. Hall’s counsel again objected to the proposed voir dire question. The circuit court stated: “[T]he Court has already ruled that it would not ask that question. The Court would address it in instructions if asked to and the Court has given that instruction in the past when asked and will do so now.” Before the circuit court instructed the jury, the prosecutor asked the circuit court to give an “anti-CSI effect” jury instruction. Hall’s counsel objected to the “anti-CSI -3- effect” jury instruction “for the record” and stated that the instruction would intimate to the jurors that “it’s okay if the State doesn’t have forensic or physical or scientific evidence.” The circuit court overruled the objection and instructed the jury: During the trial, you may have heard testimony of witnesses and may hear argument of counsel that the State did not utilize a specific investigative technique or scientific test. You may consider these facts in deciding whether the State has met its burden of proof. You should consider all of the evidence or lack of evidence in deciding whether a defendant is guilty. However, I instruct you that there is no legal requirement that the State utilize any specific investigative technique or scientific test to prove its case. Your responsibility as jurors is to determine whether the State has proven, based on the evidence presented or lack of evidence, the Defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.