Schultz v. State

Three issues are presented on this appeal:

1. Did the trial court usurp the prosecutorial function during the course of the trial ?

2. Was the defendant’s statement admissible at trial?

3. Was the evidence sufficient to sustain the verdict?

Judicial Usurpation of Prosecutorial Functions

The defendant contends that the trial court coached the prosecuting attorney and otherwise improperly assumed an adversarial role. The defendant lists fourteen incidents to support this argument which are grouped by the state as follows: first, the court’s sua sponte interrogation of witnesses; second, the court’s…