State v. Cormier

272 So. 2d 686
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedFebruary 19, 1973
Docket52243
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 272 So. 2d 686 (State v. Cormier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Cormier, 272 So. 2d 686 (La. 1973).

Opinion

272 So.2d 686 (1973)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Louis Paul CORMIER.

No. 52243.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

January 9, 1973.
Dissenting Opinion January 15, 1973.
On Rehearing February 19, 1973.

*687 Dean A. Andrews, Jr., Michael F. Barry, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.

William J. Guste, Jr., Atty., Gen., Harry H. Howard, Asst. Atty. Gen., Jim Garrison, Dist. Atty., Louise Korns, Maurice R. Franks, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-appellee.

PER CURIAM.

The defendant was convicted of armed robbery, La.R.S. 14:64 and was sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections for twelve years. He appeals his conviction and sentence relying on nine bills of exceptions reserved and perfected during the proceedings.

Bill of Exceptions No. 1 was reserved during the voir dire examination by the state when the Assistant District Attorney remarked, "But, if at the end of the case you don't have a reasonable doubt, the only doubt you have in your mind is an unreasonable doubt, a doubt you cannot put your finger on, perhaps a doubt planted there by the defense attorney ...". *688 Counsel for the defendant moved for a mistrial which motion was denied.

We find that the remark made by the Assistant District Attorney did not fall within the grounds for mistrial stated in La.C.Cr.P. Art. 770, and the defendant was not entitled to a mistrial. This Court will not set aside a verdict on the ground of improper remarks made by the state which do not fall within the grounds mentioned in La.C.Cr.P. Art. 770 unless we are convinced that the jury was influenced by such remarks, and that the remarks contributed to the verdict found. Furthermore, counsel for the defendant made no request of the trial court for an admonition, which we feel could have cured the prejudicial effect of the remarks, if any. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 771, State v. Richardson, 258 La. 62, 245 So.2d 357 (1971).

Bill of Exceptions No. 2 was reserved when the trial court allowed the state, over objection of the defense counsel, to peremptorily challenge a juror after the jury panel had been sworn.

On voir dire the state asked of the juror, who was later peremptorily challenged, whether he had ever been charged with a serious crime. The juror responded in the negative. However, after the jury had been sworn, the juror acknowledged to the court that once he had been charged with burglary. At this point the state was allowed to peremptorily challenge the juror.

We are mindful of the rule contained in La.C.Cr.P. Art. 795 which states that "A peremptory challenge may be made by the state at any time before the juror is accepted by it ...", however, under the circumstances here, we find that the defendant was not prejudiced by allowing the state to challenge the juror after having accepted him. State v. Hopper, 251 La. 77, 203 So.2d 222 (1967). In State v. Thornhill, 188 La. 762, 178 So. 343 (1937) this Court disposed of the question presented here. In Thornhill, as here, after a jury had been selected and sworn, the state, over objection by the defendant, was permitted to peremptorily challenge a sworn juror. In affirming the conviction we made the following pertinent observations at 188 La. 778-779, 178 So. 348:

"The trial judge held that either side had a right to challenge a juror peremptorily up to the time of taking the testimony. The ruling of the judge a quo is stated too broadly, in our opinion, and needs qualification.
If it should appear in any case that, at the time the State peremptorily challenged a juror, the panel was complete, and the defendant had exhausted his peremptory challenges and was compelled, because of the state's challenge to accept an obnoxious juror, we would not hesitate to set aside the conviction and sentence in such a case, as both prejudice and injury to the defendant would be clearly shown.
But, in the instant case, it is not stated by defendant, in either bill of exception No. 8 or in Bill of Exception No. 10 that the defendant's peremptory challenges had been exhausted and that he was forced, by the peremptory challenges allowed the State to accept an obnoxious juror.
Nor does defendant pretend, in either of these bills, that by his ruling, the trial judge allowed the State more peremptory challenges than are allowed by law. Had he done so, it would have been reversible error, and a new trial would have to be granted to defendant. State v. Earle, 24 La.Ann. 38, 13 Am.Rep. 109; State v. Gay, 25 La.Ann. 472; State v. Everage, 33 La.Ann. 120. But the fact is that the district attorney exhausted his last peremptory challenge against the juror, Kennon, as shown by his statement: `We have one other challenge and want to challenge Mr. Kennon.' Tr. p. 45. The record fails to disclose that any additional peremptory challenge was allowed the State by the trial judge in this case.
*689 Defendant, therefore, has shown no injury as a result of the ruling of the trial judge."

Under Article 799 of our Code of Criminal Procedure, in trials punishable necessarily by imprisonment at hard labor, such as trials for armed robbery, the accused and the state each have twelve peremptory challenges.

The record in the instant proceeding shows that the state used only six peremptory challenges and that the defense used only three peremptory challenges. (R. 3.) Therefore, at the time the state peremptorily challenged Mr. Abrams the accused had not exhausted his peremptory challenges and thus was not compelled because of the state's challenge of Abrams to accept an obnoxious juror; nor did the trial judge allow the state more peremptory challenges than are allowed by law—either of which situations would have been reversible error. The accused, therefore, suffered no injury, and any error which might have occurred was harmless under Article 921 of our Code of Criminal Procedure and State v. Thornhill, supra.

The bill of exceptions is without merit.

Bill of Exceptions No. 3 was reserved during the examination of the state's witness, Officer Emmet Dupas. Officer Dupas was testifying about the events leading to the arrest of the defendant. He testified that the victim of the robbery had signaled him from the car in which the defendant and the victim were riding, and that he responded to the signal by stopping the car. Then, the officer testified that he had a conversation with the victim of the robbery and afterwards placed the defendant under arrest for possession of burglary tools. The officer was then asked if he found any burglary tools, and responded in the affirmative. At this point counsel for the defense objected on the grounds that the officer referred to an extraneous offense and asked for a mistrial which was denied by the trial court.

We concur with the reasons given by the trial court in overruling the defendant's motion for mistrial:

"The objection of counsel for the defense was overruled by this court as the witness was giving an explanation as to just what transpired before he placed the defendant under arrest, and his reasons for making the arrest of the defendant."

Furthermore, we find the testimony was admissible for the reason that it explained how the officer discovered the knife which was used in the armed robbery for which the defendant was charged. That is, after the officer found the burglary tools and was in the process of searching the vehicle he found the knife used in the armed robbery under the seat.

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272 So. 2d 686, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cormier-la-1973.