Court Opinion

ID: 9760155
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:41:29.016486+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:08.567533
License: Public Domain

MORRISON, Presiding Judge,
(concurring).
I join in the approval of the opinion of affirmance, but would add the following in which Judge Woodley concurs.
Bill of Exception No. 2 in which the prosecutor said, “I hate to be called on and tell a defense lawyer that they don’t live by the Bible quoted,” is the one which certifies:
“When in truth and in fact said remarks were so prejudicial and inflammatory same could not be cured.”
Had such a certificate appeared in Bill of Exception No. 4, then another question would have been presented so far as the writer is concerned. But, appearing as it does in Bill No. 2, I cannot bring myself to agree with the certificate of the trial judge.
This court has held in a great number of cases that we are not bound by any certificate of the court where we have the entire matter complained of before us. In addition to those cases cited in Judge Belcher’s opinion, attention is directed to McGee v. State, 155 Texas Cr. Rep. 639, 238 S.W. 2d 707; Mayberry v. State, 156 Texas Cr. Rep. 101, 239 S.W. 2d 111, and the more recent cases cited in Texas Dig., Crim. Law 1111 (4) & (5). Also, in McCune v. State, 156 Texas Cr. Rep. 207, 240 S.W. 2d 305, we said:
“* * * we are in a position to pass on the question of whether the introduction of such exhibit would have materially altered the verdict and are not bound by the trial court’s conclusion.”
In Sublett v. State, 158 Texas Cr. Rep. 627, 258 S.W. 2d 336, we said:
*249“We will be bound only by certificates from the trial court as to facts. The question was asked. This fact is certified in the bill and is binding on this Court. The trial judge’s conclusion as to the ‘resulting implication’ is not binding on this Court. The facts are before us as they were before the trial judge. We alone reserve the right to pass upon what effect those facts had upon th trial of the accused.
“ * * * We have read the record carefully and do not agree with such conclusion of the trial judge and decline to be bound thereby.”
See also Hanna v. State, 159 Texas Cr. Rep. 2, 259 S.W. 2d 570, and Free v. State, 165 Texas Cr. Rep. 374, 307 S.W. 2d 808,