State v. Ruggiero

194 A.2d 458, 41 N.J. 4, 1963 N.J. LEXIS 131

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: October 21, 1963
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered

Pee Ctjeiam.

Defendant’s conviction for bookmaking was affirmed by the Appellate Division, and one judge there dissenting, defendant prosecuted a further appeal to us. B. B. 1:2-1 (b).

The substantial issue is whether the trial court invaded the jury’s province. We agree with the Appellate Division that upon the entire charge the jurors must have understood that the issue of guilt was wholly for them without any finding thereon by the trial judge, and hence the error complained of was not harmful.

We add a word with respect to the trial court’s use of “prima facie” in speaking of the evidential impact of proof of possession of gambling paraphernalia. “Prima facie” a shorthand expression for the sufficiency of proof upon some factual issue, belongs to the lexicon of lawyers. As to jurors, the charge should say simply that it is for them to decide whether the State carried its burden of proof upon a consideration of the whole case. However, we are satisfied that in the context of the entire charge the use of “prima facie” did not suggest that the law predetermined the inculpatory thrust of the evidence or shifted to defendant the burden of proof or persuasion.

The judgment is affirmed.

For affirmance—-Chief Justice Weifteaub, and Justices Jacobs, Eeafcis, Proctob, Hall, Sohetttfo and Hafe-maf—7.

For reversal—Hone.