Court Opinion

ID: 9566400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:38:52.630811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:24.133738
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Presiding Judge,
concurring fully and specially.
I agree with all that is written in the majority opinion, but wish to emphasize that skin-to-skin contact is not a necessary element of the crime of sodomy. As noted in the majority opinion, there is nothing in the sodomy statute or related case law suggesting that the prohibited conduct can only be committed by skin-to-skin contact. If the legislature had intended the words of the statute to have the meaning urged by the dissent, it could have easily said so.
The essence of the sodomy statute is to prohibit certain contact which may be perceived by the sense of feeling. It is a matter of common knowledge that the interposition of a layer of fabric will not prevent a person feeling the object thus concealed. Thus, the statutory purpose would be frustrated were someone able to avoid the prohibition of the statute by the interposition of such a gossamer barrier.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Pope, Presiding Judge Birdsong, Judge Andrews, Judge Blackburn, and Judge Smith join in this opinion.