Court Opinion

ID: 9546358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:28:14.890572+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:16:20.947547
License: Public Domain

Springer, J.,
concurring:
I concur in the result reached in the majority opinion, but I disagree with the majority’s sanction of Mr. Schwartz in the measly sum of $250.00.
First, I want to say that it was clearly incumbent upon the trial judge to put a stop to Mr. Schwartz’ contemptuous refusal to abide by the court’s rulings relative to his impermissible rhetorical argument during his opening statement. Had the trial judge declared a mistrial and sanctioned Mr. Schwartz at the time of his misconduct this court would not be faced with having to decide whether this clearly guilty murderer is entitled to a new trial by reason of the most blatant prosecutorial misconduct that I have seen in a long time. Given the unfortunate place that Mr. Schwartz has placed this court in, the assessment of $250.00 is laughable. I think $2,500.00 is more like it, or perhaps even more.