Court Opinion

ID: 9706505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:45:07.604455+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:23.200122
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE BYRNE, specially concurring: While I agree with the majority’s conclusion that despite the misconduct of the State’s Attorney, defendant in this case was not denied his right to a fair trial, I reject the conclusion that if there is overwhelming evidence of guilt the prosecutor may play fast and loose with a defendant’s rights. If, as in the majority opinion, we accept the fact of prosecutorial misconduct and then look to the underlying evidence of guilt to determine whether such conduct should be sanctioned, we, in fact, put the cart before the horse. The State has a greater burden than merely seeking convictions. If prosecution of felonies and misdemeanors becomes a game of “what can I get away with” rather than presenting evidence and making comment within the framework of seeking justice and fairness for all, the justice system has lost sight of its legitimate goals. I believe that, while the majority reaches the correct result based on the cases cited, the dissent is correct in arguing that prosecutorial misconduct cannot be allowed in any case and that when we affirm convictions such as the one in the instant case, we send a message that such conduct will be allowed in certain circumstances. So, while I concur with the majority’s result herein, I think that we must continue to examine the issue of when prosecutorial misconduct should be sanctioned and what the threshold for reversal of convictions procured in such an environment should be. To hold that prosecutorial misconduct is permissible when there is overwhelming evidence of guilt is not consistent with the goals and ideals of our justice system.