Court Opinion

ID: 9520081
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 01:31:05.517282+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:31.061453
License: Public Domain

MORGAN, Justice
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
I concur in part and dissent in part.
I agree with the majority opinion except as to the admission of the evidence of previous convictions. The majority admits that the trial judge was under a misapprehension as to the effect of Rule 609 of the South Dakota Rules of Evidence. He made no finding that the proffered evidence was more probative than prejudicial. If there were no close questions before the jury, I might agree with the disposition. However, in view of the question of specific intent that was before the jury,* I consider the question of probity versus prejudice a very important question not to be passed over with a mere warning to trial judges in future cases.
I would affirm the DWI conviction and reverse the conviction of grand theft, and remand for new trial on the charge of petty theft.
I am authorized to state that WOLL-MAN, Chief Justice, joins in this concurrence in part and dissent in part.

 The majority notes that the defendant’s blood test of 0.34 was dangerously high.