Bendheim Bros. v. Baldwin

Blandford, Justice.

This case was tried in a justice’s court on appeal before a jury, the Honorable R. G. Riggins, justice of the peace, presiding. His honor charged the jury as follows: “Gentlemen, this is a case which has been tried by me before, and I decided in favor of defendant; I further charge you, gentlemen, that if you find that any settlement has been made, you find for defendant; retire and make up your vex-dict.”

The law does not require a justice of the peace to charge the jury at all; his ignorance of the law, as well as propriety, would seem to demand that he should not, but if…