Opinion ID: 1874238
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the judge err by interjecting himself into the trial?

Text: We have said that in order to obtain a review of the question of propriety of remarks or conduct of the trial judge during a trial, the remarks must be especially called to the attention of the trial judge when made, and a correction requested or a proper objection made at the time. Tippit v. Hunter, 205 So.2d 267, 271 (Miss. 1967). However, a limitation on this rule occurs when the conduct of the trial judge, on the entire record, was so reprehensible and prejudicial as to deny a fair trial or due process of law. Jackson Yellow Cab Co. v. Alexander, 246 Miss. 268, 277, 148 So.2d 674, 678 (1963). In Nichols v. Munn, 565 So.2d 1132 (Miss. 1990), we said that an attorney is not held to the same degree of diligence in making an objection to a judge's comments that he is in making other objections, since a judge interjects himself into a trial by his own volition. The appellants contend that the judge improperly interjected himself into the trial. First, the judge allegedly asked for a full accounting of all oil income and disbursals by the Estate when that was not even at issue. Secondly, the judge improperly indicated a disbelief that Switzer's omission of tax liability from the schedule he prepared could have caused damage to the appellants. The appellants' contention is based on comments made by the judge during the trial. The judge interrupted the proceedings at various times with comments and questions such as: If you turned over all the oil money that you received, ... [w]hat difference did it make that the accountant had miscalculated the windfall tax; Put the figures down, ... and then let's see if she actually got into her account, and if she got into her account why, whether it was because the accountant had made a mistake on the windfall profit or whether she was paying some money just to make some settlements to compromise other parts of a will contest; The simple question that I'm asking you is where is the loss ... that caused the residuary of the estate any money in filing a return to the Internal Revenue Service for windfall profit tax if they turned over the money, whether it was accurately estimated by the accountant or inaccurately estimated, whatever that figure was, whether it was twenty-two thousand or eighty thousand, it went to the owners of the property: where is the loss to the estate; and The records show that it ultimately was all turned over to the recipients who were the heirs to that oil property. So what difference does it make if the accountant made an error? Where is the damages on that point since all of it was turned over? As we have noted previously, We have recognized the danger that a trial judge generates by indicating or showing his attention to certain matters in the trial which may communicate to the jury the impression that such evidence or testimony is important or unimportant, and the very position of a judge during trial makes each comment unusually susceptible of influencing a juror or the jury. Shelton v. Puckett, 483 So.2d 354 (Miss. 1986); Hannah v. State, 336 So.2d 1317 (Miss. 1976); Thompson v. State, supra [468 So.2d 852 (Miss. 1985)]; Stubbs v. State, 441 So.2d 1386 (Miss. 1983); Fulgham v. State, 386 So.2d 1099 (Miss. 1980); Myers v. State, 99 Miss. 263, 54 So. 849 (1911). West v. State, 519 So.2d 418, 423 (Miss. 1988). A trial judge should not in any way inadvertently communicate to the jury his opinion regarding the value or credibility of the testimony being offered. Shelton v. Puckett, 483 So.2d 354, 357 (Miss. 1986). Here, the judge obviously asked for the information and continued to question the witnesses in an attempt to understand the basis of the claim and to determine whether the Estate had in fact suffered a loss. However, his repeated questions could have indeed created doubt in the minds of the jurors that the Estate had suffered any loss. Since the judge directed a verdict on all issues and the case was not submitted to the jury, the error is harmless. But, we caution the judge on remand to refrain from interjecting himself in the trial in this manner.