Court Opinion

ID: 9591612
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:05:58.290568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:11.061603
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I agree with the majority that the judgment of conviction should be affirmed. However, I cannot agree with the majority’s finding no error in the trial court’s charging the jury only on procedural matters after completion of arguments. Although based upon an extensive review of the entire record, I believe that the error in this case is not reversible, it is my opinion that the mandate of OCGA § 5-5-24 (b) *100(Code Ann. § 70-207) that the court “shall instruct the jury after the arguments are completed” is obligatory upon the trial court, and is not subject to substantial variation, no matter how innovative or well-meaning the trial court may be. McDaniel v. State, 225 Ga. 695 (171 SE2d 358) (1969), cited by the majority, is not analogous to this case. In McDaniel, it appears that, after argument, the trial court did give substantive instructions and that the challenge of the appellant in McDaniel was related only to one specific issue on which the jury had been given previous instructions which the Supreme Court held to be sufficient. In the case sub judice, the trial court gave only procedural instructions following completion of the argument. While I cannot disagree with the trial court’s desire to inform the jury as the case progresses on relevant legal principles applicable to the ultimate decision, I think such instructions given at the discretion of the trial judge should be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the comprehensive charge required by the statute. See Evans v. Moore, 131 Ga. App. 169, 171 (4) (205 SE2d 507) (1974).