Opinion ID: 2555770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Prior Criminal Acts Evidence and Jury Instructions

Text: As noted, I join the majority's reasoning and disposition on this claim. I would only add that I strongly agree with the wide majority of other jurisdictions which have concluded that a contemporaneous instruction on the limited use of prior-bad-acts evidence is the preferred practice. See, e.g., Lesko v. Owens, 881 F.2d 44, 56 (3d Cir.1989); United States v. Cuch, 842 F.2d 1173, 1177 (10th Cir.1988); People v. Heard, 187 Ill.2d 36, 240 Ill.Dec. 577, 718 N.E.2d 58, 72 (1999); People v. Abernathy, 402 Ill.App.3d 736, 341 Ill.Dec. 737, 931 N.E.2d 345, 361 (2010); State v. Angoy, 329 N.J.Super. 79, 746 A.2d 1046, 1052-53 (App.Div.2000) ([A] prompt delivery of limiting instructions, either before, simultaneously with, or immediately after, the admission of other crimes evidence is preferable, and-unless there is some compelling reason to do otherwise-should be standard procedure followed by trial courts in all cases.); cf. Lott v. State, 98 P.3d 318, 335 (Okla.Crim.App.2004) (indicating that a trial court must issue contemporaneous and final limiting instructions).