State v. Lowery

HEDRICK, Judge.

By appropriate assignments of error the defendants contend the court expressed an opinion as to the credibility of the defendants and their other witnesses, in violation of the provisions of G.S. 1-180.

In State v. Belk, 268 N.C. 320, 150 S.E. 2d 481 (1956), Justice Branch quoted with approval from State v. Carter, 233 N.C. 581, 65 S.E. 2d 9 (1951), as follows:

“ ‘The trial judge occupies an exalted station. Jurors entertain great respect for his opinion, and are easily influenced by any suggestion coming from him. As a consequence, he must abstain from conduct or language which…