Opinion ID: 537466
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Trial Court Vouched for Prosecutor.

Text: 109 All defendants except Scott contend the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant a mistrial on the basis that the court vouched for the credibility of the prosecution when, in response to a request by counsel for defendant Ware that she be allowed to verify after each day of trial that each exhibit admitted that day was actually received in evidence, the court said it would rely on the honesty of the prosecutor and denied counsel's request. 110 The decision to order a mistrial rests in the trial court's discretion. Hamm v. Jabe, 706 F.2d 765, 767 (6th Cir.1983). 111 During the direct examination of Al Meredith, Sr., the prosecution moved to admit certain documentary evidence. Counsel for one defendant asked permission to examine the documents. It was revealed that not all defense counsel were given a copy of the prosecution's proposed exhibits; instead, the exhibits were delivered to Migdaleck's attorney to circulate among defense counsel. The court required the prosecution to provide each defendant with a copy of all the exhibits. Counsel for defendant Ware then inquired if counsel could, after each day of trial, verify that each admitted exhibit was used. 3 The court said: 112 I am going to rely on the United States attorney to be honest. He always has been. He always will be. 113 Outside the presence of the jury, defendants moved for mistrial asserting the court vouched for the credibility of the prosecution. The court denied the motion. 114 As the Supreme Court said in Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60 (1942), reh. denied, 315 U.S. 827 (1942): 115 Perhaps the court did not attain at all times that thoroughgoing impartiality which is the ideal, but our examination of the record as a whole leads to the conclusion that the substantial rights of the petitioners were not affected. The trial was long and the incidents relied on by petitioners few. We must guard against the magnification on appeal of instances which were of little importance in their setting. 116 Id. at 83. (Citations omitted; emphasis added.) 117 This was an isolated comment in a rather lengthy trial and the comment was made during a general discussion regarding the identification and introduction of the prosecution's exhibits. Moreover, the court, in its instructions to the jury, favorably commented upon the professionalism of every attorney. We do not think the cited comment by the trial court denied defendants a fair trial. 118 We AFFIRM.