Opinion ID: 472207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: impartiality of the trial court

Text: 17 At various points in the trial, the trial judge asked questions of witnesses. The questions were interjected in some cases for purposes of clarification and in others to determine whether the Court should sustain defense objections. 18 Rule 614(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence expressly provides for court interrogation of witnesses at trial. In exercising its discretion under the Rule, the Court must avoid the appearance of advocacy for one party, United States v. Jackson, 696 F.2d 578, 593 (8th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 460 U.S. 1073, 103 S.Ct. 1531, 75 L.Ed.2d 952 (1983), and limit its intervention to the extent necessary to ensure effective presentation of evidence. Id. The questioning by the trial court in this case did not prejudice the appellant and remained within the accepted bounds. 19 Appellant also argues that the trial court in a sidebar conference displayed a bias in favor of the prosecution. In the course of the particular conference the district judge sought to elicit from the government an indication of what evidence it would be presenting in the remainder of its case to satisfy its burden of proving that the crops at issue had come from land subject to an FmHA security agreement. Appellant suggests that the Court thereby impermissibly counselled the government on how much proof was needed to prevail in its prosecution. 20 The sidebar conference arose because defense counsel challenged the submissibility of the government's case. The questions posed by the trial judge were impartial and directed toward addressing the challenges raised by appellant. The conference took place outside the hearing of the jury. The court's questioning did not rise to a level of prejudice justifying reversal of conviction. Compare Jackson, 696 F.2d at 593 with United States v. Bland, 697 F.2d 262, 265 (8th Cir.1983); see also United States v. Singer, 710 F.2d 431 (8th Cir.1983).