State v. Barnes

I respectfully dissent. This conviction, and especially the judicial review of it, offends fundamental notions of fairness. The majority avoids facing the substantial contentions that may justify a reversal, through applying outmoded technicalities.

*1049The defendant, Kevin Barnes, is convicted of the possession of minute traces1 of marijuana. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. He was 17 years of age at the time of conviction.

The infinitesimal traces of the drug were in the seam of a small envelope in the bottom of a pocket of some bluejean pants this teenager was wearing when…