Opinion ID: 1907107
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Frye Hearing.

Text: Zack argues that although defense counsel failed to request a Frye hearing on the issue of whether PCR DNA was generally accepted in the scientific community, the trial court should have conducted a hearing sua sponte. Because counsel did not request a Frye hearing, this is simply a rewording of Issue 1 above. Zack argues that pursuant to Arnold v. State, 807 So.2d 136 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002), the failure to order a Frye hearing on new or novel scientific evidence is fundamental error. Actually, Arnold states that the trial court needs to give all the parties an opportunity to be heard at a Frye hearing, and that the opposing party should be permitted to offer evidence in rebuttal. Arnold does not address a trial court's duty to sua sponte order a Frye hearing. We have considered and rejected Zack's claim that a Frye hearing was necessary. We will not reverse this conviction based on the trial court's failure to order its own Frye hearing when we have determined that the admission of the disputed evidence was not prejudicial.