Opinion ID: 2437694
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the trial court abused its dicretion in the undue admoishment of counsel in such a way as to subject counsel to contempt and ridicule bfore the prospective juror who was being questioned at the time.

Text: Mr. Pete Estes, Sr. entered the courtroom during the examination of prospective juror Mary Sue Jones. He conferred briefly with Robert R. Estes, one of the active defense attorneys. Mr. Estes, Sr., a member of the firm of Estes, Estes & Estes, talked with Robert Estes about a personal matter. The court instructed Mr. Estes to get a coat and tie on and sit down if he was going to participate in the case. The exchange between Mr. Estes, Sr. and the court was in the presence of only this prospective juror. We stated in McAlister v. State, 206 Ark. 998, 178 S.W.2d 67 (1944), and quoted with approval in Chapman and Pearson v. State, 257 Ark. 415, 516 S.W.2d 598 (1974): No principle is better settled than that a judge presiding at a trial should manifest the most impartial fairness in the conduct of the case. Because of his great influence with the jury, he should refrain from impatient remarks or unnecessary comments which may tend to result prejudicially to a litigant or which may tend to influence the minds of the jury. Where the trial court's remarks may be construed as reflecting upon counsel's knowledge and skill as a lawyer, the rights of an accused are prejudiced and reversal is necessary. McAlister, supra. We feel it would have been a better practice for the court to have asked Mr. Estes, Sr., to approach the bench and discuss this matter out of the hearing of the prospective juror. But, considering the fact that this juror was excused and did not participate in the case, we do not feel the error was prejudicial.