Court Opinion

ID: 9730711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:21:25.72994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:08.792590
License: Public Domain

WOLLMAN, Chief Justice
(concurring specially).
Although I agree that the conviction should be reversed, on the basis of the record before us I would not hold that the trial court committed reversible error in not granting appellant’s motion for new trial based upon the state’s attorney’s question to appellant’s girl friend regarding her age. That the trial court was concerned about the state’s attorney’s violation of the pretrial order is obvious from the in-ehambers colloquy following defense counsel’s objection. Nevertheless, the trial court stated that it did not view the question and answer thereto as being sufficiently prejudicial to warrant granting the motion for a mistrial. Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury, at defense counsel’s request, that any testimony regarding the witness’ age was not to be considered by the jury.
Although I agree that the intentional violation of a trial court’s order is inexcusable, not every such violation mandates reversal of a conviction. I would defer to the trial court’s on-the-scene determination that the granting of the motion for mistrial was not warranted in the circumstances of this case.
I agree that the State’s effort to put before the jury the informant’s testimony regarding appellant’s alleged admission was an obvious subterfuge. I would only note that the trial court, at defense counsel’s request, did instruct the jury during the course of closing arguments that the informant’s testimony was to be considered only for the purpose of impeaching the testimony of appellant’s girl friend. Although this instruction was not reduced to writing, the record does not reveal that defense counsel made a request that the supplemental instruction be reduced to writing.