Court Opinion

ID: 9680143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:21:33.007476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:25.963768
License: Public Domain

MORRISON, Judge
(concurring).
While I agree that this conviction cannot stand, I feel impelled to say a word in defense of the trial judge.
It appears to me that the situation in the case at bar arose from a failure to communicate between counsel and the trial court and that the trial court was laboring under the impression that counsel for appellant was attempting to commit the venire to a course of conduct prior to trial. To illustrate, at one point during the discussion about what questions concerning racial prejudice counsel would be permitted to ask, the trial court stated:
“Let the record reflect that the Court has instructed the defense attorney not to predicate questions with phrases such as ‘if the evidence should show’, setting up different fact situations, and asking the jurors to compare fact situations, where they would give certain punishment if certain facts were shown to be true. The Court would further indicate to the defense attorneys that they are free to ask general questions, such as whether or not the fact that the defendant is a black man would affect their verdict, etc. The Court will not permit comparison of fact situations. In regard to questions he proposes to ask in regard to the prejudice they may have against the defendant because he’s a Negro and the complaining witness is a white person, the Court’s ruling is as stated. You can ask them if they have any prejudice, but I don’t want you to ask whether or not they would give more or less punishment. You can ask general questions, if they would be prejudiced by that situation. I will permit that.”
It can further be observed that counsel for appellant was permitted to ask such questions as “Would you have any prejudice against the defendant because he is a colored male or can you assure me you will judge him on the facts of this case irregardless of the color of the complaining witness ?”
I reluctantly concur.