Case Name: UNITED STATES v. FENWICK
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1839-05
Citations: 25 F. Cas. 1065
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. FENWICK.
Judges: (THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent)
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 25
Pages: 1065–1065

Head Matter:
Case No. 15,08?.
UNITED STATES v. FENWICK.
[5 Cranch, C. C. 562.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
May Term, 1839.
Criminal Procedure—Instructions—Sufficiency of Evidence.
It is error in a judge to instruct the jury that the evidence is sufficient to convict the defendant. The sufficiency is to be decided by the jury.
[Cited in Stettimus v. U. S., Case No. 13,-387; U. S. v. Taylor, 11 Fed. 473.]
[Cited in Territory v. Kee (N. M.) 25 Pac. 926.]
Error to the criminal court for Alexandria county, in a prosecution for perjury.
The judge had instructed the jury that the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant [Francis Fenwick], who objected to the instruction, and took his bill of exceptions.
[Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
(THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent)
was of opinion that the judge should not have instructed the jury that the evidence was sufficient; that question is for the jury.
Judgment reversed, and venire de novo to be awarded.