State v. Carriker

215 S.E.2d 134 (1975)

STATE of North Carolina v. Teddy Lee CARRIKER.

No. 103.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

June 6, 1975.

*136 Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten and Asst. Atty. Gen. James E. Magner, Jr., Raleigh, for the State.

Clarence C. Boyan, High Point, for defendant-appellant.

MOORE, Justice.

When court opened on the day of the trial of this case, the jurors for the term were called and sworn and thereafter remained in the courtroom. The district attorney then called the first case on the calendar, State v. Bell. That defendant entered a plea of guilty of possession of marijuana. Before passing sentence in that case, the presiding judge made certain remarks as hereinafter partially summarized. Shortly after judgment was imposed in the Bell case, the district attorney called defendant's case. Before pleading to the indictment charging him with distribution of marijuana, defendant moved for a continuance for the term due to the remarks made by the judge before sentencing Bell. Prior to ruling on this motion, defendant's attorney, Mr. Lea, accompanied by the court reporter, conferred with the presiding judge in chambers. There the following exchange took place:

"MR. LEA: We make a Motion to continue on the basis of certain remarks made by the Presiding Judge in the sentencing of Roger Paul Bell, these remarks which I think "THE COURT: What remarks? I don't care about your opinion. "MR. LEA: The first one was that marijuana was a habit-forming drug. The second remark "THE COURT: I didn't say that. "MR. LEA: That is what I understood you to say. "THE COURT: I said when they got hooked on marijuana that my experience was that anything went, and I have tried them for robbery; they get desperate for money and anything goes, robbery or anything else. "MR. LEA: I think that is close to what you said; and further, as the defendant in a previous case left the Courtroom, the Presiding Judge looked at the Jury and stated substantially as follows: That they all get religion when they come in the Courtroom. Is this a fair statement, Your Honor? "THE COURT: I don't know that I said they all do. I said a lot of them get religion when they come in the Courtroom. "MR. LEA: Is it necessary for me to give the reasons for this? "THE COURT: I don't care anything about the reasons. You can take it up if you want to and tell the Court up there why you took it up. All I said in front of the Jury is what you get from the papers everyday, on the radio or on the television anytime you want to turn it on, and those people sitting on the Jury are grown men and women. The Motion is DENIED."

Defendant's attorney contends that the comments made by the presiding judge before the jury panel were actually much more extensive and prejudicial than those preserved for the record and set out above.

*137 By his first assignment of error defendant alleges that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a continuance due to the fact that the remarks made by the court before the jury panel prejudiced his right to a fair trial. Neither the State nor defendant has cited a North Carolina case nor has our research discovered one which deals directly with the question here involved. The general rule is stated in Annot., 89 A.L.R.2d 197, 234, as follows:

". . . [T]he rule appears to be that the practice of addressing the prospective jurors does not of itself constitute reversible error, although suggestions or statements which are likely to influence the decision of the jurors when called upon later to sit in a given case may constitute error and should be avoided, as should misstatements of the law or remarks disparaging legitimate defenses that may be made in cases to be tried, as well as references made directly or by innuendo to particular cases which might come before the jurors."

See 75 Am.Jur.2d, Trial §§ 91, 92, pp. 194-95 (1974).

Many decisions have warned that remarks made before prospective jurors must be engaged in with the greatest of care and that the judge must be careful not to make any statement or suggestion likely to influence the decision of the jurors when called upon later to sit in a given case. In Gross v. Commonwealth, 256 S.W.2d 366 (Ky. 1953), Commonwealth insisted that the remarks of the presiding judge made on the first day of the term to the prospective jurors could not have prejudiced them as this case was not tried until the 17th day thereof. The trial judge there had stated from the bench to the members of the prospective jury, in substance, that they would never convict anyone for violating the liquor laws if they accepted the testimony of defendants charged with such offenses. This statement was not directed to the defendants in that case or any other particular defendant charged with such violations. Holding that these remarks were error, the Kentucky Court of Appeals stated:

"We do not believe the poison had evaporated from the minds of the jurors because of the fact seventeen days elapsed between the time these unfortunate words were spoken to the jury and the time of the trial. A trial judge occupies a high position, and the jury should, and usually does, have great respect for him and is easily influenced by the slightest suggestion coming from him. Burnam v. Com., 283 Ky. 361, 141 S.W.2d 282, and authorities therein cited. Practically the same statement made here was made by the trial judge in Shaw v. Com., 206 Ky. 781, 268 S.W. 550, and it was there held to be reversible error."

Accord, Mele v. Becker, 1 Mich.App. 172, 134 N.W.2d 846 (1965).

G.S. § 1-180, which requires a judge to explain the law but to give no opinion on the facts, refers by its terms to the charge of the judge to the jury. Nonetheless, it has long been construed to forbid the judge to convey to the trial jury in any way at any stage of the trial his opinion on the facts involved in the case. State v. Holden, 280 N.C. 426, 185 S.E.2d 889 (1972); State v. Atkinson, 278 N.C. 168, 179 S.E.2d 410 (1971); State v. Walker, 266 N.C. 269, 145 S.E.2d 833 (1966); State v. Williamson, 250 N.C. 204, 108 S.E.2d 443 (1959); State v. Smith, 240 N.C. 99, 81 S.E.2d 263 (1954); State v. Cook, 162 N.C. 586, 77 S.E. 759 (1913). There is language in our cases to the effect that G.S. § 1-180 is not applicable until the case is called to trial. State v. Lippard, 223 N.C. 167, 25 S.E.2d 594 (1943); State v. Jacobs, 106 N.C. 695, 10 S.E. 1031 (1890).

In State v. Canipe, 240 N.C. 60, 81 S.E.2d 173 (1954), we held that G.S. § 1-180 was violated when the trial judge inadvertently communicated his opinion of the facts in the case by his remarks or questions to prospective jurors during the selection of the jury. And as we said in the oft-quoted *138 case of Withers v. Lane, 144 N.C. 184, 56 S.E. 855 (1907):

". . . The judge should be the embodiment of even and exact justice. He should at all times be on the alert, lest, in an unguarded moment, something be incautiously said or done to shake the wavering balance, which, as a minister of justice, he is supposed, figuratively speaking, to hold in his hands. Every suitor is entitled by the law to have his cause considered with the `cold neutrality of the impartial judge,' and the equally unbiased mind of a properly instructed jury. This right can neither be denied nor abridged." (Emphasis added.)

Accord, State v. Greene, 285 N.C. 482, 489, 206 S.E.2d 229, 233 (1974).

In addition to G.S. § 1-180, and apparently to supplement it, the General Assembly enacted G.S. § 1-180.1 to further prevent the trial judge from invading the province of the jury. This statute in part provides:

"Judge not to comment on verdict.In criminal actions the presiding judge shall make no comment in open court in the presence or hearing of all, or any member or members, of the panel of jurors drawn or summoned for jury duty at any session of court, upon any verdict rendered at such session of court, and if any presiding judge shall make any comment as herein prohibited, or shall praise or criticize any jury on account of its verdict, whether such comment, praise or criticism be made inadvertently or intentionally, such praise, criticism or comment by the judge shall constitute valid grounds as a matter of right, for the continuance for the session of any action remaining to be tried during that week at such session of court, upon motion of a defendant or upon motion of the State. . . ." (Emphasis added.)

This statute by its express terms applies to comments made by the presiding judge concerning verdicts rendered during the session. However, we fail to see how comments made by the judge in the presence of the jury panel concerning a verdict of guilty could be more prejudicial than the same remarks made concerning a plea of guilty. Such comments violate the spirit if not the letter of G.S. § 1-180.1.

The central question is whether or not the language complained of might have so affected the prospective jury panel that it was likely defendant would be deprived of a fair and impartial trial. In the present case the prospective jurors were put on notice by the trial judge that marijuana was a habit-forming drug; that once the habit was formed "anything goes"; that it led to robbery or anything else to get money; and that all or many of those charged with such offenses "get religion" when they come into court. Surely the prospective jurors could logically infer from these remarks that defendants charged with similar offenses should be convicted, and that when apprehended and brought into court many such defendants would attempt to deceive the court by "getting religion." The probable effect or influence upon the jury, and not the motive of the judge, determines whether the party whose right to a fair trial has been impaired is entitled to a new trial. State v. Canipe, supra; State v. Smith, supra. That the remarks were an inadvertence on the part of the able and experienced judge renders the comments nonetheless harmful. Burkey v. Kornegay, 261 N.C. 513, 135 S.E.2d 204 (1964); Miller v. R. R., 240 N.C. 617, 83 S.E.2d 533 (1954).

G.S. § 1-180.1 also expressly provides that "[t]he provisions of this section shall not be applicable upon the hearing of motions for a new trial, motions to set aside the verdict of a jury, or a motion made in arrest of judgment." Hence, in order to obtain the benefit of the statute a defendant must, as defendant did in this case, move for a continuance.

The comments made by the trial judge concerning cases involving marijuana, coming shortly before defendant's case was called, entitled defendant to a continuance, *139 and it was error for the trial judge to overrule defendant's motion.

We see no merit in defendant's other assignment of error, but for the reasons stated defendant is entitled to a new trial.

The case is remanded to the North Carolina Court of Appeals with direction that it remand it to the Superior Court of Davidson County for a new trial in accordance with the principles herein stated.

New trial.