Morrison v. State

OPINION ON STATE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

MALONEY, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of murder and punishment was assessed at confinement for fifty years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. On appeal, appellant complained of the trial court’s practice of allowing jurors to question witnesses by means of submitting written questions to the court.1 Appellant argued that this practice encourages jurors to become advocates. Appellant further contended that he was harmed because the juror’s question, although ruled inadmissible, “tipped off” the prosecutor, prompting the State to…