Trump v. State

VEASEY, Chief Justice.

The principal question before the Court is whether statements in a prosecutor’s jury summation that appeared to vouch for the credibility of a complaining child witness in a criminal sexual misconduct ease constituted plain error requiring reversal of the conviction and sentence. We hold that for improper vouching to constitute plain error: (1) credibility must be a central issue in a close case; and (2) the prosecutor’s comments must be so clear and defense counsel’s failure to object so inexcusable that a trial judge, in the interest of fundamental fairness, has no…