Court Opinion

ID: 9681704
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:55:02.243162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:35.516134
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing.
HAMITER, Justice (dissenting).
I agree with the majority’s conclusion on this rehearing that the remarks of associate counsel for the prosecution were improper, they having constituted an expression of a belief in defendant’s guilt not founded entirely upon evidence adduced at the trial. Also, I subscribe to the pronouncement that it was not necessary for defense counsel to request the judge to instruct the jury to disregard the remarks in order to have their impropriety considered on appeal. And, further, I recognize with approval the established doctrine that a remark by the prosecuting officer in his closing argument, as a necessary or proper answer to what has been said in the argument of defendant’s counsel, though otherwise improper, affords no grounds for setting aside a conviction.
But I am unable to agree with the majority’s holding that the associate prosecutor’s expression of his opinion as to the accused’s guilt (offered before the jury in this case) was necessary and proper as an answer, though otherwise improper, to the argument of defense counsel. The latter’s argument required only a statement by such prosecutor as to the reason 'for his being enrolled in the case. What the actual reason was I do not presume to know. It might well have been that the district attorney invited his association because of his thorough familiarity with all phases of the case and his ability as a criminal lawyer; or that, as defense counsel argued, he was eager to obtain a conviction so as to aid in the successful prosecution of a civil suit for his client to recover the value of the stolen meat. But certainly the compelling reason for the enrollment was not his belief or opinion that the defendant was guilty of the crime charged. Often lawyers, in their private practice and while investigating civil matters, reach the conclusion that crimes have been committed; yet very seldom are they associated with the district attorney in prosecuting the alleged perpetrators of the crimes. And if and when they are so associated, it is usually because of their familiarity with the cases or of some direct pecuniary interest in the outcome thereof; it is not because of mere entertained beliefs that the defendants are guilty.
In the majority opinion it is stated that this case may be said to be on all fours with State v. Borde, 209 La. 905, 25 So.2d 736, 740. The two- cases, as I view them, are distinguishable. In State v. Borde the district attorney, during the course of his closing argument to the jury, remarked: “Mr. John Hunter, Sr. and Mr. John Hunt*833er, Jr. said that I did not believe in this case and did not in my own conscience believe that this accused was guilty and in answer to that I will say if I did not believe that he was guilty he would never have been brought to trial.”
In responding to the accusation of defense counsel, the district attorney had only two alternatives: (1) to deny it, or (2) to-answer as he did. Either of these would have produced the same effect — an expression of a belief of the accused’s guilt. But in this case the associate prosecutor could very well have given a reasonable explanation as to the reason for his enrollment, about which defense counsel argued, without expressing his opinion that the accused was guilty.
Obviously prejudicial, the remarks complained of herein constituted, in my opinion, reversible error and the defendant is entitled to a new trial.
I respectfully dissent.
On Rehearing.