Court Opinion

ID: 9573931
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:00:30.579832+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:44.127382
License: Public Domain

MOSK, J.
I concur in the judgment.
However, I have problems with the cavalier treatment of the potential racial prejudice gratuitously injected into this case by the prosecutor. The majority appear willing merely to declare the inquiry about gangs was “arguably” improper and error. They should forthrightly state it was error, and then proceed to discuss prejudice.
Relationship of Black gangs to the sodomy of Smith was tenuous at best. The implication appears to be that only prison Blacks commit sodomy. We know from any number of previous cases that unfortunately sodomy in prison is not uncommon and that it is committed by prisoners of all races on prisoners of all races.
Although the prosecutor deserves criticism for injecting race into this case, under all the circumstances I cannot find prejudice to the defendant. For that reason I concur with the majority.