Hardee v. Charles Worth York

There are eleven assignments of error. We discuss some of these under two general headings.

— I —

After the jury was selected but before any evidence was introduced, the judge gave the jury certain preliminary instructions, apparently on the theory that the jurors were unfamiliar with court proceedings and that general instructions as to what to expect would be helpful to them in performing their duties. He explained to them that they were the sole triers of the ultimate facts, the order in which the trial would proceed, the presentation of evidence, cross-examination, arguments of counsel and…