Court Opinion

ID: 9750619
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 15:12:15.591441+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:26:14.620698
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Mb. Chief Justice Bell:
Over and over again, trial Judges in their charge to the jury, especially in murder cases and important felony cases, have analyzed the testimony and expressed *50tlieir opinion on the evidence or parts thereof with the oft repeated admonition that the verdict of the jury is to be determined and based upon their opinion of the credibility of the witnesses and their understanding and recollection of all the evidence, and it is completely and solely a matter for their determination and decision, and the opinion of the Court is in no way binding upon them. In other words, the verdict is entirely and completely a matter for the jury in their uncontrolled discretion, irrespective of any opinion which the Judge may have in the case. Without this guiding power in the trial Judge, there will often be a miscarriage of Justice which will result in grievous harm to Society and to all law-abiding citizens.
I repeat what was said in the dissenting Opinion in Commonwealth v. Ott, 417 Pa. 269, 276, 207 A. 2d 874: “The law is correctly stated in Commonwealth v. Chambers, 367 Pa. 159, 79 A. 2d 201, where the Court said (page 164) : ‘. . . it is always the privilege and sometimes the duty of a trial judge to express his own opinion, including his opinion of the weight and effect of the evidence or its points of strength and weakness or even the guilt or innocence of the defendant and the verdict which, in his judgment, the jury should render . . . .’ See also the following cases, where even a stronger charge than the present charge was approved: Commonwealth v. Moyer, 357 Pa. 181, 53 A. 2d 736; Commonwealth v. Raymond, 412 Pa. 194, 194 A. 2d 150; Commonwealth v. Chester, 410 Pa. 45, 188 A. 2d 323.
“What is the use of this Court saying that it is sometimes the duty of a trial Judge to express his own opinion of the guilt or innocence of the defendant (provided he tells them that he leaves the question of guilt or innocence to them), and then stating that it is reversible error for the trial Judge to say exactly what this Court said he could say? . . .
*51“I find no error in the Court’s charge which many times left the question of guilt or innocence entirely, completely and finally to the jury.” Accord: Williams v. Phila. Trans. Co., 415 Pa. 370, 375, 203 A. 2d 665; 9 Wigmore on Evidence (3d Ed. 1940) Judge and Jury, §2549 et seq. and in particular, 2551a, page 509. Wig-more thus aptly and wisely expresses the reason for the rule: “That the preservation of the pristine power of the Court to comment and advise the jury is essential to the efficient working of the jury system, and that the deprivation of that power is highly injurious, has been often pointed out by judges and lawyers of experience: . . .”
I strongly dissent, and would affirm the Judgment of Sentence.