Williams v. Stumpf

The question presented is whether the trial judge abused his discretion: (1) By refusing to permit cross-examination of the witness called by the court; and (2) by hearing evidence outside the trial in order to determine whether the verdict should be set aside.

It is a tradition of the law that the right to cross-examine is one of the strongest safeguards against mistake and perjury. It is a matter of regret, therefore, the defendant’s counsel was denied the right to cross-examine the witness on whose testimony the court might determine whether it would set the verdict aside. After all, the…