Fowler v. State

The majority reverses Mr. Fowler’s conviction of misdemeanor harassment on the basis that the circuit judge erred in permitting certain questions by the State on cross-examination. I respectfully dissent.

I have no disagreement with the view that a defendant’s political beliefs are, generally speaking, irrelevant in a criminal prosecution. But the question in the case at bar is whether this defendant’s beliefs were relevant on the issue of his credibility. His credibility was crucial to the case because he testified at trial and not only denied harassing the complaining witness, but also…