Court Opinion

ID: 9759729
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:26:16.101578+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:04.297624
License: Public Domain

Robert L. Brown, Justice, concurring. I concur in the result but write separately to express my concern with the holding that appellant’s counsel did not object in a timely manner to the prosecutor’s questions regarding prior involvement in drug sales, per the colloquy set out in the majority opinion. While the case relied upon for this result, Hill v. State, 285 Ark. 77, 685 S.W.2d 495 (1985), did hold that an objection must be made at the first opportunity, that case involved an untimely objection made after eight questions had been asked on the subject. In this case, appellant’s counsel objected before the second question was answered, and given the realities of trial practice, the application of the rule to these facts is too technical. However, I concur in the result, as Smallwood later admitted on cross-examination, without objection, to membership in a gang involved in selling drugs. The line of questioning objected to, if error, was undoubtedly harmless.