Court Opinion

ID: 9756216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 21:15:38.007167+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:16.374822
License: Public Domain

McHUGH, Associate Presiding Judge
(dissenting):
¶53 While I agree with the majority's decision as to whether the trial court erred on each issue raised on appeal, I respectfully disagree as to the cumulative effect of the errors. Therefore, I would reverse Defendant's conviction and remand his case for a new trial on the basis of prejudicial, cumulative error.
¶54 As stated in the majority opinion, the standard of review for the cumulative error doctrine is that the reviewing court will only reverse "if the cumulative effect of the several errors undermines our confidence" that the defendant had a fair trial. See State v. Gonzales, 2005 UT 72, ¶ 74, 125 P.3d 878 (internal quotation marks omitted). "If the claims are found on appeal to not constitute error, or the errors are found to be so minor as to result in no harm, the doctrine will not be applied." Id. (emphasis added).
¶55 First, I agree that the trial court erred when it-albeit inadvertently-referred to the "restricted person" charge and failed to remove the language from the set of instructions provided to the jury. Second, I am in agreement that the trial court acted reasonably and well within its discretion when it declined to question the jurors regarding the altercation in the hallway of the courtroom. Third, I concur in the majority's conclusion that the State's gang expert was permitted to stray far afield of probative or relevant evidence despite Defendant's objections.1 However, unlike the majority, I am not convinced the errors were minor. Instead, the cumulative effect of these errors undermines my confidence that Defendant had a fair trial, and I would reverse and remand for a new trial.

. A trial court's task is made more difficult when overzealous experts are offered on sensitive topics. With the right to offer such testimony comes a corresponding duty to school the expert on the importance of refraining from gratuitous forays into irrelevant and potentially inflammatory embellishments. However, my review of the record suggests that the wide-ranging and colorful testimony was a product of the witness's own enthusiasm rather than any tactic of the prosecution.