Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1978

State v. Bouzigard

Supreme Court of Louisiana · Decided September 14, 1978 · Believe, Believes, Calogero, Dixon, Does, Excessive, Grant, Questioning, Reversal, Summers, Tate

362 So. 2d 1384; 1978 La. LEXIS 6691 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Dissenting Opinion

TATE, J.,

dissents.

The trial court’s extensive interrogation of the accused amounted to a comment upon the evidence and an expression of disbelief in the accused’s credibility in his trial defense. This could not be harmless error, destroying as it did the accused’s principal defense.

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Affirmed.

SUMMERS, J., believes the questioning by the judge was excessive but does not believe the error warrants reversal.

Concurring Opinion

DIXON, J.,

concurs.

The trial judge is not prohibited from interrogating witnesses.

TATE and CALOGERO, JJ., would grant a rehearing.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.