Court Opinion

ID: 9779196
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:39:53.197056+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:23.218954
License: Public Domain

JACK SMITH, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent for two reasons. First, although the jury requested to see the videotape, its foreman later advised the judge that he thought the jury could reach a verdict without reviewing the tape. The jury did reach a verdict, and no specific harm has been alleged or shown by the appellant.
Secondly, the majority opinion treats the videotape exhibit in the same manner as a physical exhibit, i.e., a gun, a knife, etc. I believe this an improper standard to apply to videotape evidence. I believe the proper procedure for a court to follow, when a jury has requested to see an entire videotape that has been introduced into evidence, would be: (1) the judge should advise the jury in writing that its request has been received by the court, and (2) if there is a disagreement among the jurors about specific parts of the evidence shown in the tape, then (3) the jury should make a request in writing to the court specifying what specific portions of the tape it desired to see; (4) in the event the jury makes such a request to view specific portions of the tape, the judge should review the tape, select the portions of the tape requested to be seen, and show those portions to the jury, and (5) a full and complete record of all the steps taken, including the specific portions of the tape shown, should be reduced to writing and placed in the record of the court.
If the procedure outlined above is followed, it may or may not require the showing of a full videotape, depending upon the content of the tape and the specific fact or facts on which the jury is in disagreement. I disagree with the majority opinion because it appears to conclude that if a videotape is introduced into evidence as an exhibit, the jury, upon request, is entitled to see the entire videotape regardless of what fact question is in dispute. The majority’s conclusion appears to be based upon one fact only, the videotape was introduced into evidence. I believe this is a misinterpretation of Tex.Code Crim.P.Ann. art. 36.25 (Vernon 1981). In the instant case, it should be noted that the jury never apprised the trial court of what specific fact or facts it could not agree upon.
I agree with the majority opinion where it indicates the trial judge erred in threat*939ening to hold the attorneys in contempt. I do not agree that the manner in which he made his remarks were so fundamentally erroneous or so abusive that it requires a new trial.
I would affirm the judgment of the trial court.