Opinion ID: 564839
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Counsel's Reference to Defendant's Failure to Testify

Text: 28 The defendant also argues that his counsel's reference during closing argument to the defendant's failure to testify violated his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination and thus unduly prejudiced him: 29 MR. MARTINEZ: (Counsel for Guerrero) Ladies and gentleman, I also ask you when you're reviewing the evidence to give my client every consideration. Do not hold it against him that he did not take the stand, because he has that absolute right, and you will be instructed regarding that absolute right to remain silent. He chose to do so based on my advice as his lawyer. It's my opinion that the evidence is so weak that he did not need to take the stand. 30 The defendant appears to be confusing the prohibition against direct or indirect references by a prosecutor to a defendant's decision not to testify with some imagined rule that applies with equal force to his defense counsel. United States v. Lyon, 397 F.2d 505, 509 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 846, 89 S.Ct. 131, 21 L.Ed.2d 117 (1968). However, the defendant does not cite, nor have we discovered, any case law that applies to defense counsel. Because the defendant did not testify at trial, nor call any witnesses, the defendant's counsel's explanation of why his client decided not to testify was proper and further counsel appropriately tailored the standard jury instruction relating to trial situations where a defendant has not testified. 4 Indeed, the defense counsel made a reasonable decision to explain to the jury what the judge would instruct minutes later: that the defendant had an absolute right not to testify and that the jury was not to hold his silence against him. Thus, under the factual situation in the case before us we are of the opinion that the defendant suffered no prejudice. 31