Opinion ID: 340060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the court's interrogation of defense witnesses

Text: 27 The authority of a federal trial judge to question witnesses is well established. See, e. g., F.R.Evid. § 614(b) & Advisory Committee's Note (28 U.S.C.A. page 435) and authorities cited therein, where it is said:  . . . the manner in which interrogation should be conducted and the proper extent of its exercise are not susceptible of formulation in a rule. Our examination of the record has convinced us that the trial judge did not abandon his proper role and assume that of an advocate and that there was no prejudicial error. See, for example, Groce v. Seder, 267 F.2d 352, 355 (3d Cir. 1959). 28 In the margin we cite those portions of the trial court's interrogation or comments which the defense has pointed out to us 17 as prejudicing defense witnesses or demonstrating the court's hostility. 18 We have concluded that the trial court's questions in this case did not constitute reversible error under the terms of the standard laid down in Groce, supra. The instant case lasted through 16 days of trial plus additional periods of jury selection, instruction and deliberation. Unlike the cases relied on by defendant at page 55 of his brief, the few examples of questioning by the trial judge in this case do not reveal the pervasive, and thus improper, intrusion described in those cases. See United States v. Liddy, 166 U.S.App.D.C. 95, 509 F.2d 428, 439-41 (1974). In addition, we recognize that one gauge of the degree of proper court intrusion is the complexity of the facts and the trial judge's long familiarity with them; certainly, in this case, his broad and long-term familiarity with the defendant's mental and emotional condition, as well as the procedural background, would have justified questioning to an extent greater than that which actually occurred. Finally, we note that on the two occasions when defense counsel made timely objections to the court's questions, the court withdrew the questions and refrained from further questioning of that witness. See references to testimony of Godfroy and Mayhew at note 17 above. We have no reason to believe that the court would not have similarly refrained from its interrogation if objection had been made on those other occasions of which complaint is now made. See Barba-Reyes v. United States, 387 F.2d 91 (9th Cir. 1967). Also, we hold that the court's questions or comments, when considered either separately or all together, do not rise to the level of fundamental error. See F.R.Crim.P. 52(b); 8A Moore's Federal Practice Criminal Rules P 52.02(2), et seq. (2d ed. 1975). 29 We have considered the other contentions 19 raised by the defendant and find them to be without merit. 30 For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court will be affirmed.