Court Opinion

ID: 9571933
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:36:26.023954+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:31:12.434303
License: Public Domain

Sears-Collins, Justice,
concurring.
I write separately to bring to the attention of the bench and bar the standards regarding restraint of defendants which have been set *631forth by the American Bar Association, and to urge compliance with those standards. Specifically,
Decided December 2, 1993.
William R. Folsom, for appellant.
H. Lamar Cole, District Attorney, Bradfield M. Shealy, Assistant District Attorney, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Susan V. Boleyn, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Matthew P. Stone, Staff Attorney, for appellee.
[defendants and witnesses should not be subjected to physical restraint while in court unless the trial judge has found such restraint reasonably necessary to maintain order. If the trial judge orders such restraint, the trial judge should enter into the record of the case the reasons therefor. Whenever physical restraint of a defendant or witness occurs in the presence of jurors trying the case, the judge should instruct those jurors that such restraint is not to be considered in assessing the proof and determining guilt.
3 ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, § 15-3.1 (c) (2d ed. 1980).
Although the trial court did not state on the record his reasons for ordering restraints or instruct the jury regarding consideration of the restraints, however, I must agree with the majority that no reversible error was committed under Georgia law.