Opinion ID: 1707089
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The parents should have addressed the possibility of a separation of powers violation at the trial level; hence, they are procedurally barred from bringing the objection at the appellate level.

Text: ¶ 13. As we stated in Jones v. State, 606 So.2d 1051, 1058 (Miss.1992), A trial judge will not be found in error on a matter not presented to him for decision. There is a general requirement that objections be raised at the trial level. See Riley v. Doerner, 677 So.2d 740, 743 n. 3 (Miss.1996); Smith v. State, 572 So.2d 847, 848 (Miss.1990) (determining that the court could not consider defendant's assignment complaining of two instructions where there was nothing in the record indicating that the defendant objected to them at the time of the trial); Burney v. State, 515 So.2d 1154, 1156-57 (Miss.1987) (stating that the defendant's failure to make contemporaneous objections to alleged improper closing remarks by the prosecution or to move for mistrial precluded appellate review). ¶ 14. The mere fact that a separation of powers issue is constitutional in nature does not absolve it from the general rule that objections must be raised at the trial level. See Colburn v. State, 431 So.2d 1111, 1114 (Miss.1983) (determining that failure of defendant to raise a constitutionality question about an aggravated assault statute in a proper motion before the trial court is a constitutional waiver of any error and precluded defendant from seeking reversal on this ground on appeal). ¶ 15. G.R. and B.J.R. were presented with ample opportunity to make their separation of powers claim during their numerous hearings. This claim could have been raised in the motion to reconsider, during the final review hearing or in the motion for a new trial. Consequently, this issue is barred at the appellate level.