Court Opinion

ID: 9602128
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:52:01.685105+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:43:09.617807
License: Public Domain

*435Evans, Judge,
dissenting.
Enumeration of error number six complains because the district attorney was allowed to argue matters not in evidence, over objections by defendant’s counsel, and as to which the trial court took no proper corrective action. The majority opinion states: "We are of the opinion that this statement by the judge to the jury met the requirements stated in Purcell v. Hill, 220 Ga. 663, 664.” I do not find in the record that any corrective action whatever was taken by the trial judge. The district attorney, without any evidence as a basis therefor, improperly argued to the jury: "Now these people, Mrs. Myricks, came in today and brought me some bullets and things, she not knowing about chain of evidence.” Instead of taking corrective action, the trial judge sanctioned the improper argument, and told the jury that "counsel has a right to argue the evidence, any reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn therefrom. But in the long run ultimately the jury will have to rely on its own recollection as to what the evidence was.” We repeat, instead of correcting state’s counsel, the trial judge sanctioned his improper conduct. This action cannot be equated with the action taken by the trial judge in the Purcell case, supra, cited and relied on by the majority opinion, for in the Purcell case the trial judge stated: "I rule that out; just don’t pay any attention to that.” Surely, the majority cannot seriously contend the action in the Purcell case, and in the present case, are on all-fours! There was, in effect, a reprimand in the Purcell case, whereas there was tacit agreement with the improper argument in the present case.
But the law of Georgia requires two corrective actions by the trial judge where improper argument is made as to matters not in evidence. First, on objection, he shall rebuke counsel, and, then by all needful and proper instructions to the jury endeavor to remove the improper impressions from their minds. See Code § 81-1009. It is important to emphasize that less than both corrective actions will not satisfy the statute; counsel shall be rebuked, and in addition, the judge shall instruct the jury in such fashion as to endeavor to remove the *436improper impression from their minds. Here the trial judge did neither the one nor the other.
I am at a loss to understand how the majority can contend that in this case the trial judge took action similar to that in the Purcell case, and I insist that the record shows to the contrary. The judges of this court are all former practicing attorneys, and each is bound to recognize exactly what the district attorney was doing, that is, he was "testifying” as to matters not in evidence, using the vehicle of his oral argument for the purpose of introducing such evidence. That practice is to be condemned and the trial judges should very strictly enforce the law as to improper argument. I therefore respectfully dissent.
First Addendum to Dissent.
Evans, Judge.
Following the foregoing dissent, the majority has withdrawn three pages and has inserted eight additional pages, and I am compelled to reply.
The majority, in its second write-up of this case, argues that the statement by the trial judge was sufficient as a reprimand to counsel for the state for improperly bringing in new evidence by way of argument, with no evidence to support such argument. Let us look at the trial court’s statement and see if it helped defendant one iota. It is as follows, to wit: "The Court: 'It’s not proper for the Court to comment on what the evidence is. The jury will have to rely on its own recollection as to what the witnesses said. The court cannot comment on that. Counsel has a right to argue the evidence, any reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn from the evidence. But in the long run ultimately the jury will have to rely on its own recollection as to what the evidence was.’ ”(Tr. 354). This was a reprimand to state’s counsel? Far from it! The trial court did not go nearly far enough in instructing the jury that state’s counsel "has a right to argue the evidence” and "reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn from the evidence. But in the long run ultimately the jury will have to rely on its own recollection as to what the evidence was.” The trial court was in gross error in *437stating that he could not comment on the evidence, where there is a complete lack of evidence. In other words, he contended that so long as state’s counsel contended he was arguing within the evidence — no matter how far outside he was — the judge was powerless to stop him, except to tell the jury they must remember what the evidence was. Of course, ordinarily the trial court cannot comment on the evidence, but he can certainly stop counsel from making an improper argument based upon a matter as to which no evidence hás been introduced — as was the case here!
If the trial judge and the majority opinion are correct, then how can the following statute ever be enforced, to wit: "Where counsel in the hearing of the jury make statements of prejudicial matters which are not in evidence.. .” (Emphasis supplied.) Code § 81-1009. Here the trial court said he was powerless because he could not comment on the evidence, much less reprimand counsel, because of any contentions as to what was in evidence.
In Georgia Power Co. v. Puckett, 181 Ga. 386 (2) (189 SE 384), it is held: ".. . It is not permissible by way of argument to introduce new matter as evidence for consideration of the jury.” But how can the trial judge prevent improper argument if he is handcuffed and hogtied as the trial judge here suggests, with the apparent sanction of the majority opinion in this court.
But the trial court and the majority opinion overlooks the very important matter that state’s counsel had voluntarily withdrawn the evidence as to which improper argument was made.
The majority opinion originally admitted in this language: "Thereafter the state voluntarily withdrew these two items with the statement that there had not been a proper chain of custody.”
Who could have known better than state’s counsel that he had withdrawn that evidence before he made his improper argument and sought to re-introduce it by way of argument? Who knew better than the trial court — who presided and necessarily kept up with the progress of the case — that this evidence had been withdrawn, and that counsel’s effort to re-introduce it by way of argument *438should have been met with prompt and strong reprimand? But the trial court mildly said, in response to defendant’s prompt objection: "It’s not proper for the court to comment on what the evidence is . . . Counsel has a right to argue the evidence and any reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn from the evidence. ” But the majority opinion states that the trial court’s statement to jury, "met the requirements stated in Purcell v. Hill, 220 Ga. 663, 664.” We challenge that statement! If the majority is correct about that, we are willing to concede our position in this dissent is unfounded. What did the judge say to the jury in the Purcell case, supra? "I rule that out, just don’t pay any attention to it.” But in the present case, the judge said he had no right to comment on the evidence; that state’s counsel had the right to argue the evidence and reasonable deductions therefrom, and that the jury would have the duty of remembering what was the evidence. No reprimand — no suggestion that state’s counsel had done anything that was improper — and a tacit sanction of all the district attorney had said!
The majority opinion argues that if defendant wished further corrective action, a request of the court should have been made of the court for such, using this language: "In short there was no request for additional corrective action.” Additional corrective action, indeed! There had been no corrective action by the court whatever; defendant’s counsel had requested corrective action and ran into a stone wall. He could not request additional corrective action until first there had been some corrective action. His first request was refused. He had no duty whatever of asking for more, as Oliver Twist did when the gruel was not enough to satisfy the pangs of hunger, and for which request Oliver was severely punished (from Charles Dickens’ "Oliver Twist”).
Second Addendum to Dissent.
Evans, Judge.
This case is taking numerous twists and turns. First, the majority opinion was written and the writer dissented. Then, the majority opinion was re-written, three pages being withdrawn, and eight new pages being *439substituted. The writer was required to add "Addendum to Dissent” in answer to the second write-up of the majority opinion. Now, the majority opinion has been changed a third time, five pages have been withdrawn, and five new pages substituted, which necessitates this "Second Addendum to Dissent.”
The third write-up eliminates the principal case on which it had previously relied, to wit, Purcell v. Hill, 220 Ga. 663, 664. The majority opinion had stoutly maintained "That the trial court’s statement to the jury, met the requirements stated in Purcell v. Hill, 220 Ga. 663, 664.”
In our first "Addendum to Dissent” the writer stated: "We challenge that statement! If the majority is correct about that, we are willing to concede our position is unfounded.” Instead of accepting our challenge, the majority opinion withdraws Purcell v. Hill, tacitly admitting that it was wrong, and that the challenge made in our dissent was correct. But the majority opinion still maintains that it is right about the results of the case, even though it had cited as its principal authority a case that did not support its position, and which it found necessary to withdraw.
The majority opinion in its third write-up of this case seeks to perpetuate the error into which it has fallen by insisting that defendant was not entitled to relief from the improper argument because "... defense counsel did not move for a mistrial nor make any request for rebuke of the district attorney. In short, there was no request for additional corrective action.”
Defense counsel was not required to move for mistrial or make a request for rebuke of state’s counsel. It is only when the trial judge has ruled partly in favor of the objection, and has granted some of the relief requested, that a duty devolves upon the objector to ask for further corrective action, including a mistrial, if he thinks the partly favorable ruling does not go far enough. The explicit language of the statute, to wit, Code § 81-1009, provides that when objection to the improper argument is made, the trial judge is called upon to do two things, to wit: (1) rebuke counsel, and (2) instruct the jury so as to remove the improper impression from their *440minds, or (3) in his discretion, order a mistrial.
The transcript at p. 354 shows that immediately upon the improper argument being made, defendant’s counsel objected to same in the following language, to wit: "Your Honor, we object to this argument. That is improper to talk about what Mrs. Myricks came in here today and did. Those things are ruled out. And they have been ruled out and its improper to argue about them now.”
The trial court ruled absolutely, positively and conclusively against defendant, and did not grant even partial relief, using this language: "It’s not proper for the court to comment on what the evidence is. The jury will have to rely on its own recollections as to what the witnesses said. The court cannot comment on that. Counsel has a right to argue the evidence, any reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn from the evidence. But in the long run ultimately the jury will have to rely on its own recollection as to what the evidence was.” (Emphasis supplied.)
Of course, the trial court was in gross error in this ruling. A judge must not leave counsel with the unbridled right to argue anything he wishes to the jury, whether in evidence or not, subject only to the jury’s recollection as to whether there was evidence on the point. Such a ruling, if correct, would absolutely eliminate any control by the court as to a lawyer’s argument to the jury. Further, instead of being a reprimand, it implied approval of the lawyer’s argument. The court refused to reprimand, but told the jury, in effect, for them to try to recollect whether there was evidence along the line argued by state’s counsel. No partial corrective action was given to defendant, but the ruling was absolutely against him in toto.
The majority opinion originally urged: "In short, there was no request for additional corrective action. ” (Emphasis supplied.) Additional corrective action, indeed! There had been no corrective action whatever; the court absolutely and finally overruled defendant’s objection, and gave tacit approval to the argument of state’s counsel. There could be no additional corrective action until there had first been some corrective *441action!
To illustrate how far afield the majority opinion is in this case, and as to its complete misunderstanding of the case, in its third write-up it has cited seven cases which it contends support its position that proper objections must be made to improper argument, and that none was made in the case now under consideration.
Four of the cited cases upon which the majority opinion relies deal with situations where no objection whatever was made during the trial to the improper argument; and it is too late to first raise such objection on appeal. These cases are Joyner v. State, 208 Ga. 435 (2), at 437 (67 SE2d 221); Johnson v. State, 226 Ga. 511 (5), at 514 (175 SE2d 840); and Daniels v. State, 230 Ga. 126, 127 (2) (195 SE2d 200); and Kingston v. State, 127 Ga. App. 660, 662 (4) (194 SE2d 675). We pause here to inquire as to whether the majority really understands the point at issue in this case?
The other three cases cited and relied on by the majority opinion deal with objections to argument where a reprimand or other corrective action was taken by the trial judge, such as instructing the jury not to consider the improper argument, and the objector failed to move for mistrial or for further corrective action. Grice v. State, 224 Ga. 376 (1) (162 SE2d 432); Nelson v. State, 187 Ga. 576, 577 (6), 583 (1 SE2d 641); Lane v. State, 118 Ga. App. 688 (3) (165 SE2d 474). But how different those cases are from the case sub judice, where no corrective action whatever was granted by the trial judge, but to the contrary, he sanctioned the improper argument of counsel, and told the jury to depend on their recollection of the evidence.
The seven cases cited in the third write-up do not strengthen the position of the majority opinion whatever, but rather illustrate how completely is this case misunderstood by it, through the citation of completely inapplicable authorities.
Third Addendum to Dissent.
Evans, Judge.
The majority opinion was written and the writer dissented. Then the majority opinion was re-written, and the writer added his first addendum to dissent. Then the *442majority opinion was re-written a third time and the writer added his second addendum to dissent. Now the majority opinion has been re-written a fourth time and the writer feels compelled to add his third addendum to dissent. Need I add that the writer is standing by, fully expecting a fifth re-writing of the majority opinion, in which event a fourth addendum to dissent will follow in due course?
The majority opinion, as re-written a fourth time, no longer clings to the fallacious and erroneous theories advanced in the first three attempts to explain the affirmance of the lower court. We assume the majority recognizes that the writer’s attacks upon them were meritorious, and that they are completely and finally withdrawn, with a brand-new theory now relied upon. For that I am grateful!
The fourth write-up by the majority concedes that the argument by state’s counsel was improper; but contends the error was harmless and cites as authority Fountain v. State, 23 Ga. App. 113 (7) (98 SE 178). Fountain, supra, in no wise applies, because there the court corrected the error, as is shown at page 121.
The fourth and latest majority opinion now argues that the error was harmless as there was evidence admitted without objection to show "defendant fired a gun and that spent bullets and shell casings were found.”
How does the above statement affect this case or render the improper argument harmless? It helps not one iota! The error is not rendered harmless!
The improper argument by state’s counsel was as to two other bullets, and not as to the "spent bullets and casings (that) were found.” The district attorney improperly argued: "Now, these people, Mrs. Myricks came in today and brought me some bullets and things, she not knowing about chain of evidence.” (Emphasis supplied.) These were not the "spent bullets” to which the majority opinion makes reference, but these were as to two other bullets that the state voluntarily withdrew from evidence, being Exhibits 1 and 2. Tr. pp. 329-331.
The state, having voluntarily withdrawn the bullets from the evidence, knew well and good that they were not the proper subject of argument to the jury; and yet state’s *443counsel deliberately injected back into evidence, by his argument, the very items that he had voluntarily withdrawn, after numerous objections thereto by defendant’s counsel.
When this improper argument was made (and we repeat that the last write-up by the majority concedes that it was improper argument), defendant’s counsel immediately objected and the trial judge, under Code § 81-1009 was required to take two corrective actions, as follows, to wit: 1. Rebuke counsel, and 2. By all needful and proper instructions to the jury endeavor to remove the improper impressions from their minds.
The trial judge did neither the one nor the other, but used language that obviously sanctioned the improper argument, as follows: "Counsel has a right to argue the evidence, any reasonable deductions and inferences to be drawn therefrom.”
The fourth write-up by the majority, although having changed bases and positions, leaves this case with a glaring error staring out at the whole wide world, waiting to be corrected.
"How long, O Catiline?”