State v. Johnson
State v. Johnson
Opinion of the Court
Defendant being on trial on a charge of assault with intent to murder, his counsel objected to the remark, made by the prosecuting attorney, in his argument to the jury:
“Gentlemen of the jury, I do not ask you to convict the accused because he is a negro and the prosecutrix a white lady. I ask you to treat him as any other person being tried here, though I think that is a very good reason why he should be convicted.”
“To justify setting aside a verdict of a jury, approved by 'the trial judge, on the ground of intemperate or improper remarks by a district attorney, this court would have to be thoroughly convinced that'the jury was influenced by such remarks, and, as well, that the remarks contributed to the verdict found.” State v. Johnson & Butler, 48 La. Ann. 87, 19 South. 213.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE v. JOHNSON
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- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by the Court.) Criminal Law (§§ 1045, 1171*) — Appeal-Remarks oe District Attorney — Reversal. The remark, by the district attorney, in his argument to the jury: “I do not ask you to convict the accused because he is a negro and the prosecutrix a white lady. I ask you to treat him as any other person being tried here, though I think that is a very good reason why he should 'be convicted” — was uncalled for and should have been omitted. On the other hand, if counsel for the accused attached serious importance to it, he should have requested the trial judge to rule upon his objection and have incorporated the ruling in his bill. And, finally, we are of opinion that the matter falls within our ruling, to the effect that: “To justify setting aside a verdict of a jury, approved by the trial judge, on the ground of intemperate or improper remarks by a district attorney, this court would have to be thoroughly convinced that the jury was influenced by such remarks, and, as well, that the remarks contributed to the verdict found.” [Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2652, 2685; Dec. Dig. §§ 1045, 1171.*]