Opinion ID: 1878785
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Should the trial judge have rebuked the State for appealing to the issue of race?

Text: ¶ 35. Tate argues that the trial judge should have, sua sponte, admonished the prosecution in the presence of the jury for bringing up the issue of race. In support of this argument, Tate cites Clark v. State, 102 Miss. 768, 59 So. 887 (1912). In that case, the trial court refused proposed jury instructions propounded by a black defendant which essentially instructed the jury to try him in the same manner that a white defendant would be tried. This Court affirmed the trial court's refusal of the defendant's proposed jury instructions and added that the trial judge should sua sponte rebuke the prosecutor in the presence of the jury if the State offers a jury instruction directing the jury's attention to the defendant's race. Id. at 888. The State offered no such jury instruction in the case sub judice; therefore, we find this assignment of error is without merit.