Stabb v. State

This case concerns the propriety of an “anti-CSI effect,” or “no duty,” jury instruction, given before closing arguments in a criminal trial, that instructed the jury that there is “no legal requirement that the State utilize any specific investigative technique or scientific test to prove its case.” We addressed a similar issue recently in Atkins v. State, 421 Md. 434, 26 A.3d 979 (2011), and revisit it here primarily to provide additional guidance to Bench and Bar when confronted with requests (usually from the State) for this (or a similar) type of jury instruction seeking to avert the…