Court Opinion

ID: 9444494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:02:35.064393+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:53.533597
License: Public Domain

FINNEGAN, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
Since these convictions rest squarely upon substantial evidence, United States v. Thayer, 7 Cir., 1954, 209 F.2d 534, traced in a record free of reversible error, I approve this affirmance. I would add, however, some comments because of certain overtones implicit in the transcript.
According to common experience few shafts strike deeper into jurors’ minds, during trial, than words spoken by the presiding judge. It is also perfectly clear that the practical repercussions of his various utterances cannot always be clearly traced to and through jury verdicts. Yet trial judges possess such flexibility as may be necessary for properly performing their functions. The core problem of a trial judge lies in striking and maintaining that delicate balance between himself and the triers of fact. Since the metes and bounds of judicial conduct, during a trial by jury, are difficult to delineate, much less to reduce to a concise simple formula, I think it is worth underscoring some of its aspects when appropriate instances arise.
Here, the district judge’s remarks were more impertinent, than prejudicial. I am satisfied that no impingement on the defendants’ rights resulted from the judge’s unsuitable phraseology. When a trial judge assumes the role of a caustic critic he skirts the border of partisan participation.