United States v. Richard Kelly

Third Circuit

United States v. Richard Kelly

329 F.2d 314, 1964 U.S. App. LEXIS 5967

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit

DecidedMarch 24, 1964

Docket14542_1

StatusPublished

Cited by6 cases

This text of 329 F.2d 314 (United States v. Richard Kelly) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

United States v. Richard Kelly, 329 F.2d 314, 1964 U.S. App. LEXIS 5967 (3d Cir. 1964).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The proofs here fully justified, indeed required, submission to the jury of the basic trial question involved i. e. whether appellant had participated in the conspiracy set out in the indictment.

Complaint is also made concerning the questioning at some length by the trial judge of appellant as a witness. The court, quite similarly, interrogated the opposite number witness for the Government. As to undue participation by a judge in the interrogation of witnesses, “The test is not the number of questions which the trial court asks.” United States v. DeFillo, 257 F.2d 835, 839 (2 Cir. 1958). The test is whether, because of such questioning, the defendant was prejudiced. United States v. Stayback, 212 F.2d 313, 320 (3 Cir. 1954). Admittedly, in the present situation, as appellant states, “The court was seeking to ferret out the truth.” And the district judge in this instance was completely conscious of his proper role and the necessity of keeping within it. In that endeavor, from our own examination of the trial record, the court’s questioning did not result in substantial error.

We take this opportunity of cautioning our trial judges to continue exercising meticulous care to avoid unfair implications which might arise from any examination of a trial witness undertaken by them.

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.

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PER CURIAM.

The proofs here fully justified, indeed required, submission to the jury of the basic trial question involved i. e. whether appellant had participated in the conspiracy set out in the indictment.

Complaint is also made concerning the questioning at some length by the trial judge of appellant as a witness. The court, quite similarly, interrogated the opposite number witness for the Government. As to undue participation by a judge in the interrogation of witnesses, “The test is not the number of questions which the trial court asks.” United States v. DeFillo, 257 F.2d 835, 839 (2 Cir. 1958). The test is whether, because of such questioning, the defendant was prejudiced. United States v. Stayback, 212 F.2d 313, 320 (3 Cir. 1954). Admittedly, in the present situation, as appellant states, “The court was seeking to ferret out the truth.” And the district judge in this instance was completely conscious of his proper role and the necessity of keeping within it. In that endeavor, from our own examination of the trial record, the court’s questioning did not result in substantial error.

We take this opportunity of cautioning our trial judges to continue exercising meticulous care to avoid unfair implications which might arise from any examination of a trial witness undertaken by them.

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.

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329 F.2d 314, 1964 U.S. App. LEXIS 5967, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-richard-kelly-ca3-1964.

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