Opinion ID: 1869152
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Condition of the Trial Record on Appeal

Text: The original record in this appeal consists of eleven (11) volumes containing 1550 pages. Three supplementary volumes concerning counsel's efforts to re-construct the record contain 167 pages. The following pages contain inaudible references: Vol. II, pretrial motion for continuance, p. 26(2); pretrial motion, p. 83(1); Vol. III, the clerk, p. 141, 142, 143; voir dire, p. 148, 150(2), 185, 187, 191(2), 192(2), 208(2), 214, 215, 218, 227, 232(2), 233(2), 234, 235, 239, 240(2), 249, 250(2), 254, 255(2), 256, 260, 263(3), 264(2), 265, 267, 268, 270, 271(2), 273, 274, 276(5), 277, 278(2), 280, 283, 285, 290, 294, 306, 308(2), 330, 331, 332, 333(2), 334(3), 335(5), 336, 337(4); Vol. IV, voir dire 353, 357(3), 358, 361, 366(2), 368, 369(5), 370, 371, 373, 374(2), 387, 390, 400, 401(2), 403(4), 404(2), 405, 409, 411, 422, 424(2), 425, 429, 431, 454(2), 478; pretrial motion, 481(2); opening statement, 488, 494(2), 496, 498, 501(2), 502(3), 505(2), 508; Vol. V, testimony, 713, 722; Vol. VI testimony, 764, 775, 776, 787(6), 788(2), 797, 810, 814, 833, 851, 857, 872, 884, 887, 893, 897, 910; Vol. VII, videotaped statement, 922(2), 929, 936, 939; testimony, 963, 964, 979, 981(2), 1000, 1010; jury instructions, 1011(3), 1019(2), 1020, 1021, 1025(2); closing arguments, 1059, 1062, 1065, 1066(3), 1067, 1069, 1072, 1073(2), 1074(3), 1075(5), 1076(3), 1077(2), 1078(2), 1079(3), 1080, 1081, 1084(2), 1085, 1086(3), 1087(2), 1088(3), 1089(4), 1090, 1091, 1093(2), 1095, 1097(3), 1098(6), 1099, 1100, 1101(3), 1102, 1104, 1105(2), 1106(3), 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114(3), 1115(3), 1116(4), 1117(8), 1118, 1119; Vol. VIII closing arguments, 1127, 1133, 1136, 1139, 1143; Vol. X, jury instructions, 1311, 1312, 1314, 1315, 1316, 1317, 1322, 1324, 1326, 1329(2), 1330(2), 1332; testimony, sentencing phase, 1336, 1341, 1343, 1346, 1353, 1371(2), 1373, 1376, 1378, 1379(2), 1380, 1393, 1396(4), 1398, 1402, 1406, 1407, 1459(2), 1460; Vol. XI closing arguments, sentencing phase, 1473(2), 1474(2), 1475, 1476(2), 1477(6), 1479(1), 1481(3), 1482(3), 1484(2), 1486, 1487(7), 1488(10), 1489(9), 1490(7), 1491(6), 1492(5), 1493(3), 1494(3), 1497(2), 1498(8), 1499(3), 1501(4), 1504(2), 1505, 1507(2), 1510, 1511, 1513, 1514, 1516, 1521, 1523, 1524, 1533, 1540(4), 1541(5), 1542(6), 1543(4), 1544(2), 1545(2), 1546, 1548(2), 1549(2). Off the record discussions are noted at 577, 618, 631, 649, 744, 843, 850, 868, 883, 955, 978, 994, 1013, 1015, 1048, 1317, 1322, 1333, 1456, 1457, 1521. The errors made by the court reporter, Joan Crawford, in this case are inexcusable. We have previously chastised Ms. Crawford for her malfeasance and neglect. Haynes v. State, supra . It is inconceivable that the trial courts of this State would employ court reporters and other personnel who exhibit so few attributes of professionalism and so little regard for the intertwined rights of victims, defendants and the State. Few positions in a society governed by law are more important than that of a court reporter. In the future, the trial courts of this State should take necessary action to ensure that trial court personnel do not endanger the rights of others through negligence, incompetence or malfeasance. We note that the Mississippi Legislature has addressed this problem by promulgating regulations and penalties for willful neglect of duty by court reporters. We hereby charge the lower courts with the responsibility to take notice of these provisions and to enforce the same scrupulously. Due to errors below, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent herewith. REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. DAN M. LEE, C.J., PRATHER and SULLIVAN, P.JJ., and PITTMAN, BANKS, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr. and SMITH, JJ., concur. McRAE, J., concurs in result only.