Court Opinion

ID: 2650602
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-23 01:03:33.746276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:28:58.252462
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                          AT JACKSON
                                   June 4, 2013 Session

              STATE OF TENNESSEE v. FREDERICK HERRON

                  Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
                   No. 11-04122    Carolyn Wade Blackett, Judge

               No. W2012-01195-CCA-R3-CD - Filed January 17, 2014

J AMES C URWOOD W ITT, J R., J., dissenting.

              As the majority says, this appeal presents a close case. After much
consideration, I respectfully conclude that one error requires a reversal and a new trial.

                The error is the Rule 609 issue. The majority concludes that the defendant
loses on this issue because he did not proffer his testimony. Actually, I thought the majority
presented a solid case for holding that a proffer was unnecessary. In a case presenting strong
overtones of a “he said, she said” controversy, the trial court’s improper influencing the
defendant to avoid testifying was especially egregious. As such, I conclude that the error
requires reversal and a new trial.

                                                  ___________________________________
                                                  JAMES CURWOOD WITT, JR., JUDGE