Court Opinion

ID: 9767955
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:36:33.190961+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:35.057243
License: Public Domain

ODOM, Judge
(dissenting).
The majority misstate appellant’s ground of error. Appellant contends the trial court erred in granting the State’s motion in li-mine. He then argues that this ruling was harmful because it prevented him from proving the prior shoplifting conviction of a State’s witness for impeachment. The majority treat the issue as one of erroneous exclusion of admissible evidence. The record does not reflect any such ruling. Having failed to offer admissible evidence and secure an adverse ruling, nothing is presented for review. The mere granting of a motion in limine is not sufficient. Norman v. State, 523 S.W.2d 669 (1975); Duran v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 505 S.W.2d 863.
The majority reverse this case on the conclusion that a document showing the witness’ prior conviction was improperly excluded from evidence. I dispute that holding because the record does not show the document to be admissible. It purports to be a record of a court-martial conviction, but it is neither authenticated under the official documents act, nor identified under the business records act, nor in any other way shown to be admissible. From the record before this Court it appears to be nothing more than hearsay. For this reason I would find the record fails to reflect that any admissible evidence was tendered and excluded by the trial court. No error has been shown.
I also take issue with the assertion in Judge Douglas’ concurring opinion that Article 40.09(6)(d)(3), V.A.C.C.P., applies to *299the facts of this case. That statutory provision speaks specifically to instances when the trial court “rules that . . . evidence shall be admitted . . .” (Emphasis added) Appellant’s complaint, as construed by the majority, is directed to the exclusion of evidence, not the admission of evidence. Article 40.09(6)(d)(3), supra, does not apply. Article 40.09(6)(d)(l) and (2), V.A.C.C.P., do apply, and require that after evidence is excluded by ruling of the court, the evidence that would have been offered shall be adduced before the reporter, or the party, if permitted by the court in its discretion, may make a concise statement of what the excluded evidence would show. It does not appear that either method was followed in the instant case. No such offer before the reporter and out of the hearing of the jury of any excluded evidence appears. Neither does it appear that the court permitted a concise statement of what the evidence would show, because it is precisely upon this point, i. e., whether or not it would show a final conviction, that the dispute arose.
As above stated, the record does not reflect that admissible evidence was excluded, and therefore does not support the reversal.
Accordingly, I dissent.