United States v. Philadelphia & Reading Railroad

Trial by jury in the courts of the United States is a trial presided over by a judge, with authority, not only to rule upon objections to evidence, and to instruct the jury upon the law, but also, -when in his judgment the due administration of justice requires it, to aid the jury by explaining and commenting upon the testimony, and even giving them his opinion upon questions of fact, provided only he submits those questions to their determination. Vicksburg & Meridian Railroad v. Put nam, 118 U. S. 545; St. Louis &c. Railway v. Vickers, 122 U. S. 360. The judge who presided at the trial of…