Hunter v. State

In this criminal appeal, we again consider the impact of a prosecutor’s improper jury summation on a defendant’s right to a fair trial. This Court has consistently and repeatedly held that the State may not knowingly misstate the evidence; personally vouch for the credibility of witnesses; or use inflammatory language designed to appeal to the jurors’ passions and prejudices. The prosecutor in this case forces us to add another admonition to the list: do not disparage the “reasonable doubt” standard that governs the jury’s determination of guilt. Moreover, because our prior decisions have not…