Court Opinion

ID: 9449091
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 23:56:02.778575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:31:41.617645
License: Public Domain

DUNIWAY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
I dissent. I agree that the evidence is sufficient to support a finding that the woman was transported by the defendant, but I would not remand the matter for further proceedings relating to oral argument.
In Irving v. United States, 1931, 9 Cir., 53 F.2d 55, at 56, we said “that prejudice is not inferred from mere error, and that the burden is always upon an appellant to show that he has suffered damage in his case.” To the same effect, Didia v. United States, 1939, 9 Cir., 106 F.2d 918, 920. There is a presumption that the District Court tried the ease properly and that it protected the rights of the defendant, until the contrary is made to appear. This rule applies with particular force where it is claimed that there has been prejudicial misconduct in the argument of the prosecutor. D’Aquino v. United States, 1951, 9 Cir., 192 F.2d 338, 367.
Here, error does appear, in that the arguments of counsel were not taken down by the court reporter, but there is not even an assertion that if the argument had been taken down and brought before this court it would disclose any misconduct on the part of the prosecutor, or any other error, much less prejudicial misconduct or error. Furthermore, it would not be ground for reversal even if the prosecutor had been guilty of some misconduct in the course of his argument. There would also have to be objection, as this is the kind of error that is usually readily cured by admonition and instruction, if brought to the court’s attention. It is also the type of error that is often deliberately waived by experienced counsel by failure to object, to avoid emphasizing the matter in the eyes of the jury. The misconduct would have to be truly egregious to warrant reversal in the absence of objection.1
The rules of procedure provide a manner in which an appellant can bring before the court matters which occurred in the trial and of which no stenographic report was made. Rule 39(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that the rules and practice governing the preparation of the record on appeal in civil actions shall apply to the record on appeal in all criminal proceedings, except as otherwise provided. Rule 75 (n) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure establishes a means for preparing a record when no stenographic report of the evidence or proceedings at a hearing or trial was made. This is comparable to the old bill of exceptions procedure, and an appellant has always had a duty, and the burden, of seeing that a proper record is brought before the Appellate Court. There has been no attempt to bring the matter before this court in the prescribed manner or to show any reason why this could not be done.
Under these circumstances, it is my view that the appeal should be terminated *298now, and that there is no point in remanding the matter for the purpose of trying to discover prejudicial error when it is presumed in the absence of an affirmative showing that no such error exists.

. We note that, before oral argument, the court advised the jury as follows:
“At this time, as the Court previously indicated, we are to hear the arguments of Counsel making comments on the evidence and the probative effect of the evidence, and Counsel in the case have a right to make those comments so long as they are reasonably supported by the state of the evidence. That is to say, if there is any evidence to reasonably back up what Counsel is commenting and arguing, then they are entitled to have the jury consider all such reasonable arguments. If, however, there should turn out to be a conflict between Counsel’s recollection and the jury’s recollection as to what the facts are as established by the evidence, it is for the jury to find the facts.”
Also, in the course of its instructions, the court told the jury:
“Statements, if any, by Counsel or the Court, unsupported by your own recollections of the evidence, you will disregard. Likewise, you will disregard all statements made by Counsel and the Court to each other during the trial.
“In your deliberations and in reaching a verdict you should act only upon the evidence which has been admitted and the law as it has been given to you by the Court.”
No exception was taken to the charge by defendant’s counsel.