Trial Decisions—Griffin Violations

Prosecutors are forbidden from commenting on a defendant's decision not to testify under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 615, 85 S. Ct. 1229, 1232 (1965); Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824 (1967); Town of Columbus v. Harrington, 2001 MT 258, ¶ 18, 307 Mont. 215, 36 P.3d 937.  "The holdings in Griffin and Chapman form the foundation for the Montana cases which have considered the same issue."  State v. Johnson, 233 Mont. 473, 476, 760 P.2d 760, 761 (1988).  We "review for correctness a district court's interpretation of constitutional law."  Nichols v. Dept. of Just., 2011 MT 33, ¶ 8, 359 Mont. 251, 248 P.3d 813.   When there is no objection to the prosecutor's comments, review is for plain error.  State v. Upshaw, 2006 MT 341, ¶ 15, 335 Mont. 162, 153 P.3d 579.