Court Opinion

ID: 9559233
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:24:49.768195+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:09.753835
License: Public Domain

STRUCKMEYER, Vice Chief Justice
(dissenting):
It is my opinion that where a defendant does not choose to testify at his trial, it is reversible error for the court, over the defendant’s objection, to instruct the jury on the failure to testify. The instruction pointedly calls to the attention of the jurors the fact that 'although the defendant had the right to testify, he had some personal reason for not doing so. It invites the jury to speculate on the reason.
CAMERON, Chief Justice.
I concur with the dissent of Vice Chief Justice STRUCKMEYER.