Court Opinion

ID: 9728037
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:56:24.149602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:45.270763
License: Public Domain

Thompson, J.
(dissenting)- — I concur in the majority opinion, except that I am unable to agree that there was no prejudicial error in the giving of Instruction No. 14. The majority concedes the language of the instruction was in error, but holds it is not reversible.
*474But when error appears, especially in a criminal case, prejudice is presumed. The jury was told it was its duty “to weigh the evidence and find and determine the facts when they are disputed.” This is a specific instruction as to what evidence they should weigh and determine; and it was not cured by any general instructions given. Indeed, if one instruction is correct and another on the same point is erroneous, error and prejudice appear. There is no way of knowing which instruction the jury followed.
The expression of one thing excludes others: “Expressio unius est exclusio alterius.” "When the court told the jury that it was to determine the facts “when they are disputed”, it in effect excluded the determination of undisputed facts. I would hold this was reversible error.
ThorNton and Stuart, JJ., join in this dissent.