State v. Staley

EXUM, Justice.

We allowed further review to determine whether certain remarks made by the trial judge during cross-examination of a state’s witness constituted an expression of opinion upon the evidence in violation of General Statute 1-180. We are of the opinion that, by these remarks, the court inadvertently communicated to the jury an attitude prejudicially antagonistic to defendant’s case and that a new trial is consequently required.

This Court has been consistently vigilant to protect the right of every criminal defendant to the assistance of counsel at a trial “ ‘before an impartial…