Paul Derwood Rutterbush v. United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Paul Derwood Rutterbush v. United States, 377 F.2d 539 (9th Cir. 1967)
1967 U.S. App. LEXIS 6362

Paul Derwood Rutterbush v. United States

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

The thrust of Rutterbush’s appeal is that during the jury trial on a Dyer Act (18 U.S.C. § 2312) charge, prejudicial questions were asked by the trial judge.

The judge, with rather natural questions, did get into an area that had been stipulated out of the case. Counsel certainly could have approached the bench with his opponent and held a quiet colloquy with the judge. Also, a special instruction could have been requested. Neither was done.

Appellant suggests the judge became an advocate. The record contradicts this. The trial was eminently fair.

Counsel for appellant has done as best he could with very little to go on. He is not to be censured. Oft-times in criminal appeals counsel is required to attempt to jump over an eight foot high bar from a standing start.

The judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Paul Derwood RUTTERBUSH, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee
Status
Published