M.E.F. v. State

The appellant challenges his convictions for burglary and obstructing police officers. We find merit in the appellant’s argument that his constitutional rights were violated when the trial court adjudicated the appellant guilty without first permitting defense counsel to present a closing argument.

In a bench trial or a jury trial, it is an absolute violation of the Sixth Amendment for the court to deny the defendant the right to make closing argument. Herring v. New York, 422 U.S. 853, 95 S.Ct. 2550, 45 L.Ed.2d 593 (1975). It is true that when defense counsel complained, the trial court said…