Opinion ID: 27814
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Questioning of witness Joseph Reed

Text: 15 Besides himself, Benjamin Blount introduced one witness in his defense. That witness was Joseph Martin Reed, a member and manager of a band Benjamin played in during the time of the conspiracy. Reed testified that to his knowledge Benjamin never participated in the drug trade and, given their closeness and the amount of time they spent together (allegedly three to four nights a week), he felt that it was impossible for Benjamin to have traded drugs without him knowing. The defense elicited testimony from Reed that he did not do drugs and did not allow band members to drink and smoke when they rode with him to a show. Before Reed left the stand, the court asked him a series of questions that brought out the fact that he did not report income the band received in cash for tax purposes. 4 16 Federal Rule of Evidence 614(b) allows the district court to interrogate witnesses, whether called by itself or by a party. The judicial investigatory power is to be used to help the jury understand the evidence; the court must be careful not to express a bias or to confuse the roles of the judge and prosecutor. See United States v. Reyes, 227 F.3d 263, 265 (5th Cir.2000); Saenz, 134 F.3d at 702; Bermea, 30 F.3d at 1569. 17 Review is for plain error when the defendant fails to object at trial. Saenz, 134 F.3d at 701. Though Benjamin's counsel requested a conference with the judge immediately after Reed was excused, he acknowledged the court's right to examine witnesses and was principally concerned that the jury receive appropriate instructions. There was no objection to the questioning of Reed. The court gave the standard jury instructions, telling the jury: Do not assume from anything I may have said that I have any opinion concerning any of the issues in this case. Except for my instruction to you on the law, you should disregard anything I may have said during trial in arriving at your own findings as to the facts. 18 The judge's questioning was negligible, with no cumulative effect. See id. at 699. The judge's only questions were at the end of Reed's testimony and relatively brief. Further, Benjamin's own testimony played a key role in his conviction and the conviction did not hinge on Reed's testimony. The line of questioning does not reach the plain error and abuse of discretion thresholds.