Court Opinion

ID: 70545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 07:04:31+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:32.316952
License: Public Domain

PER CURIAM:
  
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  The judgment of the district court denying habeas relief is affirmed for the following reasons.
 

  The certificate of appeal was granted to allow appeal of the failure of the state trial court to give a jury instruction relative to the defendant’s reputation for peacefulness.
 

  One instruction that was refused read: “The Court instructs the jury that in case of doubt, Joshua Kevin Brink’s previous good reputation for peacefulness should turn the scale in his favor.”
 

  Another refused instruction read: “The Court instructs the jury that Defendant in a criminal case may offer his good character to evidence the improbability of his doing the act charged.”
 

  As has been explained by the Mississippi courts and the federal court, Mississippi law does not allow a trial judge to comment on testimony or weight of the evidence, and instructions on the reputation or character of the accused are objectionable. Both of the refused instructions were improper under Mississippi law.
 

  Mississippi law and the ruling in this case is not contrary to federal law as determined by the Supreme Court. The writ could not be granted.
 

  AFFIRMED.
 

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   Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.