Court Opinion

ID: 9686390
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:45:51.99263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:18.528497
License: Public Domain

McCALEB, Chief Justice
(concurring).
I agree that the failure of the judge to give the jury cautionary instructions, that impeaching evidence may not be considered substantive proof in determining the guilt of an accused, requires the granting of a new trial. However, I seriously question the right of the majority to overrule prospectively the long-settled jurisprudential rule, anent cautionary instructions regarding impeaching evidence, believing it is beyond our power to attempt to bind the Court, in futuro, by such dictum.
On this phase of the case, I agree with the observations of Mr. Justice Summers in his dissenting opinion on original hearing, even though he and I would reach, ultimately, a different result. For I adhere firmly to the view expressed in State v. Willis, 241 La. 796, 131 So.2d 792, wherein it is stated:
“ * * * jn or¿er t0 minimize the harm which may ensue from the reception of hearsay when used as impeaching evidence, it is necessary to caution the jury as to the limited purpose for which it may be considered before it hears such evidence, rather than to include it later in an instruction which the jury will have to apply in retrospect.”
I concur in the result.