Aaron v. State

139 So. 2d 309, 273 Ala. 337, 1961 Ala. LEXIS 594
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedSeptember 28, 1961
Docket3 Div. 955
StatusPublished
Cited by75 cases

This text of 139 So. 2d 309 (Aaron v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aaron v. State, 139 So. 2d 309, 273 Ala. 337, 1961 Ala. LEXIS 594 (Ala. 1961).

Opinion

*340 MERRILL, Justice.

Appellant, a negro, was tried and convicted of raping a white woman and the death penalty was adjudged. An appeal was taken and this court reversed, 271 Ala. 70, 122 So.2d 360. The cause was again tried and the same judgment again resulted. Counsel of appellant’s own choice represented him at original arraignment, and continued to represent him at both trials and on both appeals.

On the first appeal, we treated all the pertinent questions whether or not raised in brief. The second trial followed the first opinion except in the instances in which there was some disagreement with the way the matter was originally handled. Since the first opinion disposes of most of the questions which could be raised on this appeal, we treat mainly those questions argued by appellant in brief.

The jurors, regular and special, were sworn, and they were called to the rail in groups of 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 and 17. Each group was questioned as to his qualifications and the trial court then asked them thirty-three questions which had been furnished him by appellant.

One point raised in brief was that the court erred in qualifying the jury in groups. In Burns v. State, 226 Ala. 117, 145 So. 436, this court approved qualifying and impaneling the jury in groups of twelve, and in Untreiner v. State, 146 Ala. 26, 41 So. 285, in groups of six. The trial court committed no error in the instant case by qualifying the jury in groups.

Appellant sought to “personally interrogate each prospective juror.” The court refused to permit this, but stated that the court would ask any questions for appellant. Counsel for appellant stated then, and here on oral argument, that it has long been the practice in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County for the court to ask all of the qualifying questions. However, when any juror would answer any question in such a way as to indicate any bias or interest, counsel for appellant was permitted to personally interrogate that particular juror as to the 'details. In Burns v. State, 226 Ala. 117, 145 So. 436, 437, it was said:

“The court had qualified the jury and refused to allow counsel to cross-examine or interrogate each juror personally. The statute placed the right ‘to examine said jurors as to any matter that might tend to affect their verdict * * * under the direction of the court,’ a matter largely within the discretion of the court. In this there was no error. * * * ”

Title 30, § 52, Code 1940, provides:

“In civil and criminal cases, either party shall have the right to examine jurors as to their qualifications, interest, or bias that would affect the trial of the case, and shall have the right, under the direction of the court, to examine said jurors as to any matter that might tend to affect their verdict.”

*341 It is the rule of our cases that the limit of voir dire examination is left much to the discretion of the trial court, and we do not think the circumstances here show an abuse of that discretion. Sims v. Struthers, 267 Ala. 80, 100 So.2d 23; Redus v. State, 243 Ala. 320, 9 So.2d 914; Dyer v. State, 241 Ala. 679, 4 So.2d 311; Gholston v. State, 221 Ala. 556, 130 So. 69; Rose v. Magro, 220 Ala. 120, 124 So. 296.

Appellant argues that the court destroyed the effect of two of the questions by restating or explaining them. The first such instance follows:

“Do you believe that the arrest and indictment of the defendant are some indication of his guilt? The Court would instruct you that an indictment against the defendant is no evidence of his guilt. Would you take the instructions of the Court, or would you believe that anyway? I say, if the Court instructed you, which I always do, that an indictment against an individual is in no wise evidence of his guilt, would you in spite of that fact just because he was indicted believe it was evidence of his guilt? (All jurors answered in the negative.)
“Lawyer Seay: If the Court please, we wish to object to the Court’s rephrasing that specific question.
“The Court: Well, the only reason I do it is because I instruct all of them as to any indictment, an indictment is in no wise evidence of his guilt.
“Lawyer Seay: If Your Honor please, the question was designed to probe into the present state of mind of the defendant.
“The Court: Oh, I will ask them now if they believe without the Court’s instructions is evidence of his guilt. (All jurors answered in the negative.)”

The first sentence was the question posed by appellant. There is a great difference between an indication of guilt and evidence of guilt. The average juror knows that no person can be tried for a felony until there has been an indictment by a grand jury. There must have been some indication of guilt to the grand jury or the defendant would not have been indicted. The question as phrased was misleading and the court could have properly disregarded it, but it was asked with an explanation by the court that removed all the misleading tendencies. In this, there was no error.

The second instance follows:

“Do you believe that it would violate community feelings to vote to acquit the defendant ?
“A Juror: If there was no evidence?
“The Court: If the evidence didn’t justify it. He doesn’t add that. The Court might ask you — what he really means — if you were to vote to acquit the defendant and the evidence in the case justified acquitting him, would it violate community feeling?
“Lawyer Seay: If it please the Court, we would like to object to the Court re-phrasing the question. What the defendant wants to know is whether or not they feel that a verdict of not guilty by them would violate community feeling.
“The Court: Well, I think you have to ask them about the evidence because if they just turn him loose irrespective of the evidence or anything, or if they would convict him without any evidence, then if you believe it would violate community feelings to acquit the defendant without more, I don’t think is a fair question.
“Lawyer Seay: If the Court please, ' we respectfully object.
“The Court: All right. I will ask them if the evidence doesn’t justify it if you think it would affect community feeling if you turned him loose.”

*342 This was another question which could have properly been disregarded. As worded, it would presuppose that the jury would act without any evidence. It was proper for the court to call to their attention that the verdict must be based on the evidence. Again, no prejudicial error occurred.

Appellant argues that error is shown in the following, which occurred during th,e qualification of the jury:

“Do any of you believe that the arrest and indictment of the defendant are some indication of his guilt?

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Bluebook (online)
139 So. 2d 309, 273 Ala. 337, 1961 Ala. LEXIS 594, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aaron-v-state-ala-1961.