Opinion ID: 2620375
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statement about the Brakes

Text: [¶30] Evans also argues the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by falsely claiming Evans testified he hit the brakes just prior to the accident. The State argues it did not make such a statement. Upon our review of the trial transcript, we find no evidence the State claimed Evans testified as to braking when the accident occurred. Furthermore, Evans fails to cite the location of the purported comment in the record. “Judges, whether trial or appellate, are not ferrets, obligated to engage in unassisted searches of the record for evidence to support a litigant’s position.” State v. Witzke , 2009 ND 169, ¶ 4, 776 N.W.2d 232. The State asked a general question, “without a ball present is it your testimony today that upon hitting [sic] if someone were to hit the brakes that trailer would lunge forward, correct?” The State did not claim Evans testified he hit his brakes. Nevertheless, the district court directed the jury to disregard the purported question and answer concerning Evans’s use of his brakes. The court stated it would “allow questions of a general nature if one brakes or slows down.” Because the prosecutor did not pose a question asserting Evans testified as to braking at the time of the accident, the State did not commit prosecutorial misconduct under the first prong. [¶31] Even though we conclude the State did not mischaracterize the statement, the district court sustained Evans’s objection and instructed the jury to disregard the question and response and give them no weight whatsoever. This Court has stated, “[c]laims of improper argument are generally not grounds for reversal because it is presumed the jury will follow the trial court’s admonition and disregard improper statements.” Pena Garcia , 2012 ND 11, ¶ 10, 812 N.W.2d 328. Here, the statement was not made as alleged. Nevertheless, it was objected to, sustained, and the jury was instructed to give it no weight. The alleged statement did not result in an unfair trial or deprive Evans of his due process rights.