Opinion ID: 2170831
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Instruction During Habitual Offender Hearing

Text: During the habitual offender phase of appellant's trial, the trial court gave the following Final Instruction No. 7: I instruct you that the prior offenses charged in Count Six are, under the law, felonies. Appellant argues the trial court erred in giving the above quoted instruction because it usurped the fact finding and law finding authority of the jury under article I, section 19 of the Indiana Constitution. Contrary to appellant's argument, we have previously held that it is proper for the trial court to take judicial notice of the law and so instruct the jury. Pike v. State (1989), Ind., 532 N.E.2d 3, 6; Hernandez v. State (1982), Ind., 439 N.E.2d 625. The trial court did not err in giving Final Instruction No. 7. Appellant's conviction on Count I is reversed and the entire cause is remanded, either for retrial on Count I or the entering of judgment and appropriate sentencing on Count II, and resentencing on the remaining counts. SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, J., concur. GIVAN, J., dissents with separate opinion. KRAHULIK, J., dissents and joins in GIVAN, J., dissenting opinion.