Court Opinion

ID: 9686392
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:45:52.001107+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:18.529626
License: Public Domain

SUMMERS, Justice
(dissenting).
Conceding arguendo that this Court has, in the past, applied the rule that when impeachment testimony is introduced, it is reversible error for the trial court not to caution the jury at the time of introduction as to the limited purpose of the inconsistent statement (for impeachment, not as substantive proof of guilt); and that such error is ground for reversal even though the defendant failed to request such an instruction at the time the impeaching testimony is introduced. State v. Whitfield, 253 La. 679, 219 So.2d 493 (1969); State v. Barbar, 250 La. 509, 197 So.2d 69 (1967).
We must now realize, however, that the Whitfield and Barbar Cases were decided without reconciling the rule applied there with Articles 841, 845, 920 and 921 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which became effective January 1, 1967. These . articles provide :
Art. 841. When bill of exceptions must be reserved
An irregularity or error in the proceedings cannot be availed of after verdict unless it is objected to at the time of its occurrence and a bill of exceptions is reserved to the adverse ruling of the court on such objection. Failure to reserve a bill of exceptions at the time of an adverse ruling of the court operates as a waiver of the objection and as an acquiescence in the irregularity or ruling.
This requirement shall not apply to:
(1) A ground for arrest of judgment under Article 859, or the court’s ruling on a motion in arrest of judgment; or
(2) The court’s ruling on a motion for a new trial based on the ground of bills of exceptions reserved during the trial.
Art. 845. Submission and signing of formal bills of exceptions
The bills of exceptions reserved during the trial shall be submitted to the court and signed by it at any time prior to the order of appeal the court shall fix a later date for the submission and signing of bills of exceptions, which extended date must be not later than the return day for the appeal. The court must sign the *137formal bills of exceptions, but may attach per curiam comments stating its reasons for the rulings. If the court refuses to sign a formal bill of exceptions, its refusal may be reviewed on a writ of mandamus.
Art. 920. Scope of appellate review
The following matters and no others shall be considered on appeal:
(1) Formal bills of exceptions that have been submitted to and signed by the trial court in accordance with Article 845, whether or not the bills of exceptions were made a ground for a motion for a new trial; and
(2) Any error that is discoverable by a mere inspection of the pleadings and proceedings and without inspection of the evidence.
Art. 921. Matters not grounds for reversal
A judgment or ruling shall not be reversed by an appellate court on any ground unless in the opinion of the court after an examination of the entire record, it appears that the error complained of has probably resulted in a miscarriage of justice, is prejudicial to the substantial rights of the accused, or constitutes a substantial violation of a constitutional or statutory right.
Application of these articles to the facts and circumstances of this case requires that this Court refuse to review an irregularity or error in the proceedings after verdict, unless it is objected to at the time of its occurrence and a bill of exception is reserved to the adverse ruling of the Court on such objection. La.Code Crim.Proc. Art. 841. That is to say, the rule óf the Whitfield and Barbar Cases cannot exist side by side with the quoted codal artides.
By its decision in this case, even though vigorously urged to do so by the State in its brief on rehearing, the Court refuses to apply the legislature’s mandate. Instead the majority adheres to and applies a rule, the merit of which it repudiates, but only prospectively; a rule which the legislature in the quoted articles has refused to recognize as an exception to the scope of review on appeal in criminal cases; a rule the quoted articles have effectively eliminated from our law.
The opinion of the majority on rehearing gives only footnote attention to Article 920 which limits the scope of review to bills of exceptions properly perfected. In so doing it relegates to a subordinate role in this decision the controlling positive law on the subject.
I respectfully dissent.