Armacost v. Davis

A judge presiding at a jury trial provides direction to the jury on several topics, including: (1) the law governing its consideration of the evidence - e.g., the burden of proof, direct and circumstantial evidence, the credibility of witnesses, expert testimony; (2) the law governing the specific issues that the jury must decide; (3) the process by which the jury is to conduct its deliberations; and (4) housekeeping matters - e.g., the trial schedule, how to communicate with the court, where and when to report. Most of the court's instructions on the law are given after the close of the…