Court Opinion

ID: 9673835
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:19:11.749342+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:24.351310
License: Public Domain

ON APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING
WOODLEY, Judge.
The writer joined in the unanimous approval of the opinion of Commissioner Belcher affirming the above convictions in a joint trial and holding that the complained of argument did not constitute a comment on the failure of the appellants to testify. He did not join in the concurring opinion of his fellow judges condemning the conduct of counsel for the state because of such remarks, which they said border closely upon improper comment on such failure of appellants to testify, but did not call for reversal.
The complained of argument did or did not offend against the rule found in Art. 710, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., which provides that the failure of any defendant to testify shall not be alluded to or commented on by counsel in the cause. If the complained of remarks did offend against this rule it is the duty of this court to enforce the statute and reverse. On the other hand, if, as we concluded unanimously on original submission, the remarks complained of did not constitute a comment on the failure of the defendants to testify, (and such remains the view of the writer) neither condemnation nor reversal is warranted.
Appellants’ motion for rehearing is overruled.