Court Opinion

ID: 9733698
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:14:28.221906+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:43.653221
License: Public Domain

J. HARVEY HUDSON, Justice
concurring.
As the majority has explained, Eric Gibson, an accomplice, was called by the State to testify against appellant. On direct-examination, Gibson admitted he had initially been charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Thus, he was subject to a potential punishment ranging from 15 years to life in the state penitentiary. Thereafter, in exchange for his testimony, the State agreed to reduce the charge to mere possession — thereby reducing the range of punishment to 10 years to life with a possibility of probation. The State also agreed to include a letter in Gibson’s file detailing his cooperation with the State. Finally, the State was instrumental in reducing his bond to $20,000, permitting Gibson to get out of jail prior to sentencing.
On cross-examination, Gibson also admitted that part of his agreement with the State was that his maximum punishment would be “capped” at 30 years; thus, the actual range of punishment was 10 to 30 years in the penitentiary with a possibility of probation. Gibson further testified that he would be eligible for parole after serving one half of any sentence that might be imposed against him. Counsel pursued this inquiry as follows:
Q. [APPELLANT’S COUNSEL]: Mr. Gibson, had you been tried on the original charge, you would not be eligible for probation, would you?
A. No, I would not.
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Q. And you won’t be sentenced until you have concluded your agreement [to testify for the State]; is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
*299Q. Let me ask you this: Has anybody explained to you or talked about the term, a “deferred adjudication probation”?
A. My lawyer has talked to me about that.
Q. Can you tell the jury what your understanding of deferred adjudication probation is?
[STATE’S ATTORNEY]: Object to the relevance of this, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Sustained.
[APPELLANT’S COUNSEL]: Judge, you know I won’t argue with you, but it impacts on his making a decision; and if it’s still the same ruling, I’ll move on.
THE COURT: I’ve already ruled.
Under Texas law, a witness may not give legal conclusions or interpret the law to the jury. United Way of San Antonio, Inc. v. Helping Hands Lifeline Found., Inc., 949 S.W.2d 707, 713 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1997, writ denied). Moreover, a lay witness’s opinion expressed in terms of legal definitions and conclusions ordinarily should be excluded. Lum v. State, 903 S.W.2d 365, 369 (TexApp.-Texarkana 1995, pet. ref'd). A defendant, however, is entitled to pursue all avenues of cross-examination reasonably calculated to expose a motive, bias or interest for the witness to testify. Lewis v. State, 815 S.W.2d 560, 565 (Tex.Crim.App.1991). Moreover, evidence to show bias or interest of a witness in a cause covers a wide range, and the field of external circumstances from which probable bias or interest may be inferred is infinite. The rule encompasses all facts and circumstances which, when tested by human experience, tend to show that a witness may shade his testimony for the purpose of helping to establish one side of the cause only. Jackson v. State, 482 S.W.2d 864, 868 (Tex.Crim.App.1972).
Here, the actual meaning and legal effect of deferred adjudication were not at issue. Because the witness could only be influenced by what he believed the law to be, counsel’s inquiry was a rational, highly relevant attempt to expose any bias the witness may have had in testifying for the State. Under the circumstances, it made no difference whatsoever whether the witness’ understanding of deferred adjudication was accurate or erroneous. The relevant inquiry was simply whether the witness might be biased by his understanding of deferred adjudication. Accordingly, I would find the trial court erred in sustaining the State’s objection.
In determining whether an improper limitation of cross-examination requires reversal, an appellate court must consider the following factors: (1) the importance of the witness’s testimony in the State’s case; (2) whether the testimony was cumulative; (3) the presence or absence of evidence corroborating or contradicting the testimony of the witness on material points; (4) the extent of cross-examination otherwise permitted; and (5) the overall strength of the State’s case. Shelby v. State, 819 S.W.2d 544, 547 (Tex.Crim.App.1991); Drew v. State, 76 S.W.3d 436, 451 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. ref'd). Here, Gibson’s testimony was cumulative and relatively unimportant to the State in light of the testimony of other witnesses and the corroborative effect of the surreptitiously recorded videotape showing the commission of the offense. Accordingly, the error was harmless beyond any reasonable doubt.
With these observations, I respectfully concur in the Court’s judgment.