Court Opinion

ID: 9777293
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 20:06:16.460667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:51.799451
License: Public Domain

McCORMICK, Judge,
concurring.
I am unaware of any legal doctrine that has attracted more attention to this Court than that of “Fundamental Error.” The decision here rendered merely follows the principles finally established as the rule of this Court in Gooden v. State, 576 S.W.2d 382 (Tex.Cr.App.1979) (Judge Dally, concurring). Gooden marked the demise of the requirements of Article 36.14, V.A.C.C.P., relating to objections to the court’s charge. No longer would harm have to be shown — it would be presumed, even though there was no objection at trial.
Being convinced that Gooden v. State, supra, its predecessors, and its progeny were wrongly decided, I feel compelled to urge a disinterment and perform one last post-mortem. At the same time, I recognize the need in our trial and appellate system for uniformity and consistency in this Court.
Therefore, I concur in the result reached here without reviewing all the reasons why the rule should be otherwise.