Springs v. United States

Appellant Andre R. Springs was convicted after a jury trial for violation of D.C. Code 1967, § 22-3501 (taking indecent liberties with a minor).

On appeal his main contention is that a combination of actions taken by the trial judge — questioning of witnesses, communicating with the jury outside the presence of defense counsel, and reinstructing the jury on the issue of corroboration — had the cumulative effect of denying him a fair trial. 1 We disagree.

Although a trial judge “in a criminal case has the power to participate in the examination of witnesses when it is necessary to ‘[make] the…