Court Opinion

ID: 9673836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:19:11.752415+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:24.352224
License: Public Domain

MORRISON, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent to the overruling of appellants’ motions for rehearing. I will state my reasons.
I joined my brother McDonald in his concurrence on original submission. The argument complained of is here set forth:
“MR. GLOVER: * * * I told you, Gentlemen, that we have brought you every scintilla of evidence that the Constitution or the laws of the State of Texas will allow us to bring you and told you everything about the case we know.
I also want to read you something additional in the Charge. The court further instructs you that the law allows the defendant to testify in his own behalf, but a failure on his part to do so is not a circumstance against him and no presumption of guilt can be indulged in by the jury for a failure on his part to do so.
MR. WALDIE: Your Honor, I’d like to approach the bench at this time.
*912THE COURT: He wants to approach the bench.
(At this time a conference was held at the bench.)
MR. WALDIE: Your Honor, I’m going to at this time object to the line of argument of the counsel and move for a mistrial. Counsel knows the rules which we are bound under. We are bound the same as he is and he is in infraction of those rules and depriving the defendant of a fair trial. And for that reason, we move for a mistrial.
THE COURT: The court reporter has taken the statement of the district attorney, and I will overrule the motion for a mistrial.
MR. WALDIE: Note my exception.
MR. GLOVER: And no presumption of guilt can be indulged in the jury for a failure on his part to do so.
THE COURT: The record will show that the district attorney is reading from the Charge, all right.
MR. GLOVER: I tell you again, Gentlemen, the State has brought you every iota of evidence, every scintilla of evidence that the law will allow us to bring you.
MR. WALDIE: Your Honor, I’m going to move for a mistrial again. He’s implying that we are hiding something by not testifying to this jury, that this is prejudicial and it biases these clients’ rights to a fair trial, and move for a mistrial.”
On rehearing counsel for appellants has pointed out that the original opinion and the concurrence will not act as a deterrent to prosecutors, but will instead merely have the effect of establishing a guideline of permissible conduct whereby Article 710 Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., the statute which prohibits an allusion or comment by counsel to an accused’s failure to testify, may be continually circumvented. Since such prohibition has now reached Federal Constitutional dimensions,1 I have become convinced that this Court should do more than condemn, as we did in Holtzinger v. State, 162 Tex.Cr.R. 231, 284 S.W.2d 158, but should reverse these convictions.

. Griffin v. State of California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106.