Opinion ID: 785897
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Object to Prosecutor's Closing Argument

Text: 22 In concluding his rebuttal argument, the prosecutor made the following statement: We've got a danger in our society today. The danger is not of convicting innocent people, the danger is letting the guilty people like this Defendant go. We've got an epidemic of crime. We've got to do something and this is your chance. The officers have done all they can. The witnesses have done all they can. In a second I'll sit down and I've done all I can do and then the only thing you can, the only person that can do anything about it is you. You stand between this Defendant, this murderer, and the front door of this courthouse. Please do not let him get by. Armstrong's trial counsel moved in limine to exclude argument about not convicting innocent people, but the trial court denied that motion. Trial counsel renewed her objection after the prosecutor's closing argument, and the trial court stated it had already denied the motion. On direct appeal, Armstrong's appellate counsel argued the prosecutor's closing argument deprived Armstrong of a fair trial. The Missouri Court of Appeals rejected this argument, holding the trial court did not err in allowing the argument. 23 Armstrong listed his trial counsel's failure to object to closing argument as one of his numerous ineffective assistance claims. The district court thoroughly discussed this ineffective assistance claim, including a discussion to determine whether the closing argument prejudiced Armstrong. The district court denied habeas relief on these grounds, and, quoting Sublett v. Dormire, 217 F.3d 598, 600 (8th Cir.2000), noted the combination of the strict due process standard of constitutional review, the deferential review mandated by the AEDPA, and our less reliable vantage point for gauging the impact of closing argument on the overall fairness of a trial results in an exceptionally limited review. The district court concluded the state court decisions allowing the argument did not violate clearly established federal law, because the arguments were not unconstitutionally prejudicial. Quoting Sublett, 217 F.3d at 601, the district court recognized a jury's common sense ability to put aside a particular type of overzealous advocacy with the help of the court's standard instruction that the arguments of counsel are not evidence. The district court decided trial counsel's failure to object was not objectively unreasonable, because she filed a motion in limine and renewed her objection after the closing argument. We agree. 24 In rebuttal, the prosecutor also referenced the absent out-of-state witnesses: All the witnesses [who testified] said that [Armstrong killed McGee and shot two girls]. But there's some other witnesses you didn't hear from them. His four buddies. If what [Armstrong]'s saying is true, don't you think they'd be here backing him up? They ain't here. Trial counsel did not object to this argument. The district court found this argument did not violate Armstrong's right to a fair trial, whether analyzed as an ineffective assistance claim or independently as a due process claim, because the argument was made during rebuttal, after Armstrong's trial counsel had already offered personal opinions about the case. Citing United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985), the district court concluded any potential harm resulting from the closing argument was mitigated by the jury's probable understanding that the prosecutor was countering defense counsel's remarks as well as the overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt. 25 Because the failure to object to closing argument was not raised, briefed, or argued on appeal, we will not address it further. Agreeing with the district court, we conclude the prosecutor's closing argument does not necessitate habeas relief.