Case Name: John Kirk v. The State of Ohio
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1846-01
Citations: 14 Ohio 512
Docket Number: 
Parties: John Kirk v. The State of Ohio.
Judges: 
Reporter: Cases decided in the supreme court of ohio : upon the circuit at the special sessions in Columbus
Volume: 14
Pages: 512–513

Head Matter:
John Kirk v. The State of Ohio.
A court or judge has no right to communicate with the jury respecting the charge of the court, after the jury has retired, except publicly, and in the presence of the accused. To do so is good cause for a new trial.
This is a writ of error to the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county.
The record shows that, at the May term, 1845, the plaintiff was indicted for an assault with intent to kill, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary.
The error complained of, as disclosed in the bill of exceptions, is as follows:
*“ That, after the jury was charged by the court, and had retired, one of the associate judges of the court went into the jury room, at their request, and explained the charge of the court to them, the court having temporarily adjourned; neither the attorney for the state nor for the defendant, nor the defendant himself, being present at the time, nor having any notice of the same.”
This defendant moved for a new trial, for the causes stated in the bill of exceptions, which motion was overruled.
The writ is sued out to reverse the judgment of the court, the error assigned being the refusal to grant a new trial.
Bolton & Kelley, for the plaintiff.
•F. T. Backus, for the state.

Opinion:
Read, J.
The constitution declares " that, in all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a copy thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and, in prosecution by indictment or presentment, a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offense shall have been committed; and shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor shall be put twice in jeopardy for the same offense. Thus careful has been the constitution to secure the pure and impartial administration of criminal justice, and to guard the accused from the possibility of oppression and wrong, under the forms of a criminal prosecution. It is his right to have a public trial, that he shalL meet the witnesses face to face, before the public; and that all that can be said or preferred against him, and all that can be said or urged in his favor, shall be in the hearing and presence of the public. The ^witnesses shall give their testimony in public, and the court shall declare the law in public; and the jury are sworn to render their verdict according to the law and the evidence thus publicly given. In no other way can the jury be advised of a fact or principle of law touching the case of the accused. It is his right thus to have everybody know for what he is tried and why he is condemned, and to witness the manner, tone, and temper of his prosecution, that he may be subjected to no other influence than truth and law, and that mercy which construes every doubt to his benefit. The court charged with his trial, have no right to hold any communication with the jury touching his case, except in the presence of the prisoner, and before the public. The court can not secretly communicate to the jury what they have said respecting the law of the case. It is the right of the accused to know and have the public know, that the court communicate no new principle of law which had not been before publicly declared, nor is he at all bound to trust to the court or judge in this matter. It is his great privilege, and no power can impair it.
What a complete prostration, then, is it, of the constitutional rights of the accused, that a single judge, during the temporary adjournment of the court, should go to the jury-room to explain to them what had been the charge of the court 1 It is not claimed that this judge acted from any other motive than a mistaken notion of duty. But this fact in no sense impairs the rights of the accused.
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings.