Lindsey v. State

¶ 14. Because I find plain error in the trial judge’s instructions to the jury, I must respectfully dissent. The trial judge made numerous inappropriate comments to the jury during his preliminary jury instructions, which resulted in the jury being improperly informed of its responsibilities. After informing the jury that it was to base its verdict in the case on the law and the evidence, the trial judge further stated that innocent people are sometimes convicted by mistake. The trial judge continued in advising the jury that only the law of Leake County applied to the case. The following…