Opinion ID: 1111189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: the prosecutors' vouching for the credibility of their witnesses, and giving their personal opinions of pinkney's credibility, was improper.

Text: Under this assignment Pinkney contends that Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Hewes violated the Mississippi Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 7-106(C)(4) (in effect at the time of trial) by stating: [Y]ou will find that Steve Bailey did a fine job . .. [Y]ou will see that this is an incredibly well done investigation because, ladies and gentlemen, this is different from most cases I've ever seen ... It is also alleged that Ms. Hewes gave her personal opinion of the credibility of Pinkney's statements regarding his confession and vouched for the credibility of Dr. Galvez. See Stringer v. State, 500 So.2d at 935-937. DR 7-106(C)(4), Mississippi Code of Professional Responsibility provides as follows: DR 7-106. Trial Conduct. ..... (C) In appearing in his professional capacity before a tribunal, a lawyer shall not. ..... (4) Assert his personal opinion as to the justness of a cause, as to the credibility of a witness, as to the culpability of a civil litigant, or as to the guilt or innocence of an accused; but he may argue, on his analysis of the evidence, for any position or conclusion with respect to the matters stated herein. We do not endorse the propriety of the arguments employed by Ms. Hewes, but they do not amount to vouching for the credibility of a witness. Neither do the comments give rise to reversible error. Stringer, supra .