Court Opinion

ID: 9543808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:49:24.77522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:15.735563
License: Public Domain

Bishop, J.,

concurring:

Because I agree with the conclusion reached by the majority I concur in this Court’s reversal of the judgments against the appellant. It appears clear to me, however, that the prejudicial exchange contained in Appendix A, which took place in the jury’s presence, provided a far more compelling reason to remand for a new trial than do the reasons set out in the majority opinion. I especially note the following colloquy:
"THE COURT: Mrs. O’Connor, in what way has he opened the door?
MS. O’CONNOR: He asked David [deleted] 'As far as you know, Jimmy Bowser wasn’t selling marijuana on the streets, was he?’ And I have somebody who knows that he was.
MR. PULLEN: I’m going to object, your Honor.
THE COURT: Overruled. We’ll just have to let some appellate court someday take this up.”
That exchange was of such a highly prejudicial nature that the jury having heard it could not thereafter render an impartial verdict. Dobbs v. State, 148 Md. 34, 48-49, 129 A. 275 (1925); Reddy v. Mody, 39 Md.App. 675, 685, 388 A.2d 555, cert. denied, 283 Md. 736-738 (1978). Defense counsel, recognizing the prejudicial nature of the exchange, repeatedly objected and moved for a mistrial. This motion should have been granted because "it can be inferred with a reasonable probability that [the exchange] affected the jury’s determination in this case.” Reddy, supra at 685. I would not have found it necessary to reach the issues upon which the majority based its opinion.