Opinion ID: 1621727
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: whether the trial court erred in giving the appearance of bias in favor of the prosecution, particularly during the direct examination of dr. emily ward

Text: ¶ 50. Watts next asserts that the circuit court improperly assisted the prosecution in the presentation of its case, giving the impression of bias in its favor, particularly during the direct examination of State Medical Examiner, Dr. Emily Ward, who conducted the autopsy on Vanessa Nicole Lumpkin. He relies exclusively on West v. State, 519 So.2d 418 (Miss.1988), where this Court warned judges to limit their involvement in trial proceedings, stating: In Thompson v. State, 468 So.2d 852, 854 (Miss.1985), the Court said: It is a matter of common knowledge that jurors ... are very susceptible to the influence of the judge ... jurors watch his conduct, and give attention to his language, that they may, if possible, ascertain his leaning to one side or the other, which, if known, often largely influences their verdict. He cannot be too careful and guarded in language and conduct in the presence of the jury, to avoid prejudice to either party. See also Norman v. State, 385 So.2d 1298 (Miss.1980); Stallworth v. State, 310 So.2d 900 (Miss.1975); Shore v. State, 287 So.2d 766 (Miss.1974); Green v. State, 97 Miss. 834, 53 So. 415 (1910). We have recognized the danger that a trial judge generates by indicating or showing his attention to certain matters in the trial which may communicate to the jury the impression that such evidence or testimony is important or unimportant, and the very position of a judge during trial makes each comment unusually susceptible of influencing a juror or the jury. Shelton v. Puckett, 483 So.2d 354 (Miss.1986); Hannah v. State, 336 So.2d 1317 (Miss.1976); Thompson v. State, supra ; Stubbs v. State, 441 So.2d 1386 (Miss.1983); Fulgham v. State, 386 So.2d 1099 (Miss.1980); Myers v. State, 99 Miss. 263, 54 So. 849 (1911). West, 519 So.2d at 422-23. Thus, in West, where the circuit court expressly coached the district attorney in a stated effort to avoid reversible error and asked questions of the witnesses where it felt the prosecution had not elicited satisfactory answers, this Court found thirty instances where the lower court judge had improperly interjected himself, including the asking of questions which served to strengthen the case against the defendant, and reversed the case for a new trial. Id. at 421. ¶ 51. Watts did not raise any contemporaneous objections [5] to the comments he now assigns as error and thus, the issue is procedurally barred. Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581, 597 (Miss.1995); Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1270 (Miss.1994). Furthermore, no judicial overreaching is present in the case sub judice. Our review of the eight instances complained of persuades us that the circuit court did not impermissibly assist the prosecution as Watts argues, or in the manner found improper in West. Moreover, we cannot help but notice that the circuit court assisted the defense from time to time, particularly during the direct examination of Dr. Sudhir K. Sinha, Director of GenTest, Inc. Any assistance provided by the circuit court to the attorneys in presenting their cases was even-handed, to say the least.