Title: Seward v. State
Citation: 59 So. 2d 529
Docket Number: N/A
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: June 13, 1952

59 So. 2d 529 (1952)
SEWARD
v.
STATE.

Supreme Court of Florida, Special Division B.
June 13, 1952.
*530 R.K. Bell, Miami, and J. Lewis Hall, Tallahassee, for appellant.
Richard W. Ervin, Atty. Gen., and William A. O'Bryan, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.
MATHEWS, Justice.
The defendant was tried in the Criminal Court of Record of Hillsborough County upon an information charging assault upon one Sonora Seward with a deadly weapon, to-wit, a pistol, and was found guilty of "assault with intent to commit murder in the second degree as charged in the information." Motion for new trial was denied. The defendant was adjudged guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in the State prison for a period of five years. From this judgment and sentence, the appellant prosecutes this appeal.
(1) During the course of the trial, were the remarks of the trial Judge, out of the presence of the jury, such as to indicate bias and prejudice on his part, and intimidate and strike fear into and deter the defendant in testifying in his behalf concerning the charge brought against him?
(2) Were the remarks made by the trial Judge to the defendant, or defendant's counsel, and in the presence of the jury, such as to constitute prejudicial error?
The remarks of the trial Judge, made out of the presence of the jury, clearly reflect that the trial Judge was of the opinion that the defendant was guilty and no doubt the continual severe reprimands to the defendant had a tendency to intimidate the defendant and create such fear that he would have difficulty testifying freely in his behalf. Some of the more important statements made by the trial Judge are:
In addition to these remarks and reprimands in the absence of the jury, the Court made the following statements in the presence of the jury:
The remarks made by the trial Judge, out of the presence of the jury, may not, standing alone, constitute reversible error. We have recited them, however, because they are important in showing the state of mind of the trial Judge and this state of mind is probably responsible for the remarks made by the Judge in the presence of the jury.
In the presence of the jury, the Court did say, "It wouldn't make any difference if she were a narcotic addict. You don't have the right to kill people for narcotic addiction."
Such a statement made in the presence of the jury was the equivalent of expressing an opinion that the defendant had attempted to kill the prosecuting witness because of her narcotic addiction.
The attorney for the defendant interposed an objection to the last quoted remark of the trial Judge in the presence of the jury. The Court did not rule upon such objection, but merely said, "All right, go ahead."
In the case of Lewis v. State, 55 Fla. 54, 45 So. 998, this Court held that the utmost care should be used by the trial Judges, and especially in criminal prosecutions, not to make any expression that is capable of being interpreted by the jury as an indication of what the Judge thinks of the prisoner. See also Roberson v. State, 40 Fla. 509, 24 So. 474.
In the case of Leavine v. State, 109 Fla. 447, 147 So. 897, 902, the Court said:
No doubt the trial Judge was aggravated and his patience was tried to a considerable extent. He said to the defendant: "You are not the only one that can get stirred up * * *."  clearly indicating that he, the Judge, was "stirred *532 up". It matters not, however, what the circumstances may be, or what the trial Judge's opinion is as to the defendant's demeanor on the witness stand, or as to defendant's guilt, he should be careful that he say or do nothing in the presence of the jury which would indicate what his opinion may be.
The quoted remarks by the trial Judge to, and in the presence of, the jury, were highly prejudicial, and constitute reversible error.
Reversed, with directions to set aside the judgment and grant a new trial.
SEBRING, C.J., and ROBERTS J., and REVELS, Associate Justice, concur.