Court Opinion

ID: 9678656
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:27:12.031984+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:06.603456
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion by
Justice ROSS.
I agree that the trial court did not err in overruling Wilder’s objection to the prosecutor’s comments during voir dire concerning the State’s burden of proof. As pointed out by the majority, it is proper in a criminal case for the attorneys to question members of the jury panel concerning their understanding of the term “reasonable doubt.” The rules governing what attorneys may say during voir dire, however, are different from those governing what the trial court may say in its charge to the jury. The majority reasoned that the prosecutor’s statements were proper because the court’s charge to the jury stated, “[I]t is not required that the prosecution prove guilt beyond all possible doubt. It is required that the prosecution’s proof excludes all reasonable doubt concerning the defendant’s guilt.” I disagree with this part of the majority’s analysis for the reasons stated in my concurring opinion in Fluellen. Fluellen v. State, 104 S.W.3d 152 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2003, no pet.). The majority in the instant case cautions the prosecutor against quantifying the concept of beyond a reasonable doubt during voir dire, but apparently feels it is permissible for the trial court to do so in its charge to the jury. I respectfully disagree.