Court Opinion

ID: 9737675
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:32:00.292322+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:00.685512
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent. The majority’s opinion is illogical and irrational. Lannan v. State (1992), 600 N.E.2d 1334, expressly states that the adoption of Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) is “effective from this day forward.” 600 N.E.2d at 1339. (Emphasis supplied.) This language does not merely suggest prospective application as the majority contends, it requires prospective application. See Gray v. State (1991), Ind., 579 N.E.2d 605, 608. Furthermore, contrary to the majority’s statement in footnote 3, the Supreme Court’s application of the new rule in Lannan is no different from the court’s application of the new rule in Modesitt v. State (1991), Ind., 578 N.E.2d 649. The new rules not only took effect in Lannan and Modesitt, they also applied to the facts of the cases. If we were to adopt *221the reasoning of the majority, there would be no such thing as prospective application.
In support of its opinion, the majority cites Pirnat v. State (filed October 16, 1992), Ind., 600 N.E.2d 1342, a case the Supreme Court handed down on the same day as Lannan. However, Pirnat was pending on transfer in the Supreme Court at the same time as Lannan; therefore, it is distinguishable from the case at bar. As discussed above, the Lannan court clearly set out the prospective nature of its opinion, and as the instant case was tried prior to the effective date of Lannan, the new rule does not apply.