BILLY BAKER
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Fla. 3d DCA | 2023-05-24
No. 22-0236
Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (2023)

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Holding

Prosecutor's comments that the defense's theory of the case is not supported by actual evidence constitute permissible fair comment in response to defense arguments and do not constitute improper burden-shifting.


Headnotes

[1] A prosecutor's comments during closing argument that a defendant's theory of the case is not supported by actual evidence constitute permissible fair comment when made in…

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Key Quotes

“While the State cannot comment on the defendant's failure to present evidence, there is no impropriety in observing, in response to arguments made by the defense, that the defense's theory of the case is not supported by actual evidence.”

Statement of governing law from Andres v. State, 254 So. 3d 283, 300 (Fla. 2018)

Facts & Procedural History

Billy Baker appealed a conviction in Monroe County Circuit Court. The appeal concerns whether prosecutorial comments during closing argument regarding…

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Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Affirmed. See Andres v. State, 254 So. 3d 283, 300 (Fla. 2018) (“While the State cannot comment on the defendant’s failure to present evidence, there is no impropriety in observing, in response to arguments made by the defense, that the defense’s theory of the case is not supported by actual evidence.”); Noriega v. State, 228 So. 3d 170, 172 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017) (“Where the defendant presents and argues for its theory of the case, the state is permitted to respond (if true) that the defendant’s theory is not supported by the evidence at trial.”); Lubin v. State, 963 So. 2d 822, 823–24 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007) (finding that comment that there was not “one bit of evidence” creating alternative explanation for defendant’s fingerprint at crime scene was “fair comment on uncontroverted evidence” and not improper burden-shifting); see also Rivera v. State, 840 So. 2d 284, 287 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003) (“In order to determine whether improper remarks constitute reversible error, they should be reviewed within the context of the closing argument as a whole and considered cumulatively within the context of the entire record.”) (citation and quotation omitted).

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