Court Opinion

ID: 9581311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:13:36.278807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:50.674442
License: Public Domain

McGRAW, Justice,
dissenting:
Representation by the majority in this proceeding notwithstanding, the appellant’s objections to the prosecutor’s closing statement extend beyond the isolated remark that defense counsel would “give you [the jury] all kinds of smoke screens.” In reality, the appellant objects to a number of statements by the prosecutor that sought to avoid its burden of proof and attacked his presumption of innocence, the very heart of the right to a fair trial. The prosecutor stated on closing argument:
I just want to talk to you a minute about reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt is not some magic potion.... It boils down to: Do you believe that this young man is guilty or not? Reasonable doubt isn’t a loophole that you hang your hat on to avoid your duty not to avoid a conviction if you believe this man is guilty by saying: Oh, I have a reasonable doubt.... Typically what defense counsel will do is make you think there is a reasonable doubt because that is defense counsel’s big time chance if you can find a reasonable doubt. He will give you all kinds of smoke screens that might make you think you have a reasonable doubt. [Emphasis added].
This line of argument by the prosecution in this case was unquestionably improper. It erroneously informed the jury that it could convict the appellant even if it was not convinced of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt as long as it “believefd] this man is guilty.” Moreover, it implied that the jury should ignore whatever reasonable doubt it might “think” it had, since such doubt would most likely be the product of defense counsel’s efforts at obfuscation.
In People v. Brown, 111 A.D.2d 248, 250, 489 N.Y.S.2d 92, 94 (1985), the court stated:
We also find it necessary to comment with respect to improper conduct of the prosecutor during trial so that it will not hereafter be repeated. At one point during his summation, after characterizing defense counsel’s arguments as a cloud of black ink * used to confuse the issues, the prosecutor stated, “I am going to lead you through that cloud of confusion to the truth”. The implication that the defense arguments were intended to confuse while those of the People were on the side of truth, were wholly improp-er_ Moreover, later during his summation, the prosecutor stated that, “[b]y your verdict you should speak the truth. It is not a search for reasonable doubt.” Such a comment implied that the jury should convict even if not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, so long as it believed its verdict represented the “truth”.'
Although the court reversed on other grounds, 111 A.D.2d at 250, 489 N.Y.S.2d at 94, it clearly implied that repetition of this argument by the prosecutor upon retrial would constitute reversible error.
In my view, the prosecutor’s improper argument in this proceeding denied the appellant his fundamental right to a fair trial and constituted plain error. Although some prosecutorial latitude with respect to closing argument is undoubtedly essential, a prosecutor does not have carte blanche to *438shift the burden of proof to the defendant and undermine the presumption of innocence. Accordingly I must dissent.

 It is apparent, recalling the “loophole that you . hang your hat on" statement made in the instant case, that mixed metaphor is a frequently utilized rhetorical tool of prosecutors prone to improper argument.