Court Opinion

ID: 9933145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 18:41:39.146964+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:22.049264
License: Public Domain

I respectfully dissent for the same reasons I expressed in my dissent in Clements v. State, 370 So.2d 723 (Ala. 1979). InClements, there was at least an objection made during the trial. Here, there was no claim made that the court's instruction was erroneous until after the release of Clements.
Nevertheless, the Court holds that, even though no objection was made, the oral instruction was "plainly erroneous." I disagree. I believe the Court has applied the "plain error" doctrine hypertechnically, erroneously, and contrary to its true intent. I do not believe the jury was confused or misled by the court's instruction. Consequently, I must respectfully dissent.
FAULKNER and ALMON, JJ., concur.