State v. Bertrand

During the progress of trial, the presiding judge asked some of the State’s witnesses questions which the defendant contends may have given the jury the impression the judge was attempting to bolster the State’s case. No doubt the experienced and learned judge intended only to clarify rather than to emphasize the State’s evidence. The court’s questions, standing alone, would not be of disturbing importance. However, the effect of the court’s announcement at the close of the evidence that it would give the jury peremptory instructions may not have been removed by the court’s failure to give…