Court Opinion

ID: 9863071
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 03:03:05.573482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:46:48.586843
License: Public Domain

OVERSTREET, Judge,
dissenting.
Appellant was convicted of murder. The court of appeals reversed in Denton v. State, 896 S.W.2d 580 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1995). The State filed a petition for discretionary review raising three questions for review, all of which involve the court of appeals’ treatment of appellant’s claim about the State’s jury arguments at guilt/innocence. During the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor twice included comments of evidence that were outside the record. The defense’s objection to the first comment was overruled, but the second objection was sustained and the court instructed the jury to disregard the statement.
The court of appeals found and then held that the statements were in fact outside the record. The court of appeals held that they could not conclude that such error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Tex.R.App. Pro. 81(b)(2). It is clear from their opinion that the court of appeals concluded that this error was not harmless only after considering the factors enunciated in Harris. Harris v. State, 790 S.W.2d 568 (Tex.Cr.App.1989). In addition to examining the Harris factors while conducting its harm analysis, the court of appeals also stated that it was “not persuaded that had the errors not occurred, every rational juror would necessarily reject the defense and return a verdict of ‘guilty’.” Denton v. State, 896 S.W.2d 580. The majority found that the court of appeals failed to apply the correct legal standard by adding this additional language and by failing to *318consider other evidence of appellant’s intent. I disagree. I acknowledge that this comment was unnecessary to the harm analysis, but it is evident from the remainder of the court’s rationale that a detailed and correct harm analysis under Harris, was performed by the court of appeals. The addition of this unnecessary element did not negate the fact that a thorough harm analysis was performed by the court of appeals in accordance with Harris. Further, there is no requirement for the court of appeals to consider additional evidence if any regarding appellant’s intent once they were convinced that they could not find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error made no contribution to the punishment.
This Court has held that we would not substitute our- own judgment for that of the court of appeals, as long as the court of appeals impartially applies the correct law and the correct legal standard. Arcila v. State, 834 S.W.2d 357 (Tex.Cr.App.1992). This is the case even if our decision might have been different. Our job is simply to “dispel any confusion generated in the past by our own case law, to reconcile settled differences between the various courts of appeal, and to promote fair administration of justice by trial and appellate courts throughout Texas.” Arcila, supra at 361. The court of appeals did fairly conduct its harm analysis using both the proper law and standard, and its conclusion is supported by the record.
For these reasons I disagree with the majority’s decision to remand this cause to the Second Court of Appeals for a second harm analysis. I instead would refuse the State’s petition for discretionary review with a disclaimer regarding the unnecessary language used by the court of appeals.
MALONEY, J., joins.