State v. O'BRIEN

Recently, in State v. Taffaro, 195 N.J. 442, 451, 950 A.2d 860 (2008), we reaffirmed the well-established principle that, in presiding over a jury trial, the judge, who holds a powerful symbolic position vis-a-vis jurors, must maintain a mien of impartiality and must refrain from any action that would suggest that he favors one side over the other, or has a view regarding the credibility of a party or a witness.

It is against that backdrop that we review this case in which the Appellate Division affirmed defendant’s conviction for the first-degree murder of his parents. At trial, defendant did…