07-28-2012, 04:22 PM
(07-28-2012, 11:19 AM)Adub Wrote: I was bothered by the way Judge Bates appeared to be doing paper work during the opening statements and hardly paying attention at all. Not that that matters.
This behavior on the part of almost all the judges, has annoyed and angered me for years and years. Yes, it's true that the opening statements are not evidence. But the jurors look to the judge for clues as to what is important. It confuses and distracts them when they are told they are supposed to be listening and considering what the lawyers say, but the judge seems disinterested. It also reflects badly on the issue of respect for the legal system.
It is rude and stupid behavior. The judge should always be seen by the jury as listening intently.
In addition, occasionally there will be objections to something said during opening statements, and when the judge has not been intently listening, he may base his ruling on the objection on something he only half-listened to, or on a few sentences ordered read back by the court reporter, thus not having the full context in which the objected-to comments were made.