HELPING A JURY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 8

HELPING A JURY.

JUDGE'S ADDRESS.

OBJECTION BY COUNSEL.

Objection was taken by Mr. I. J. Goldstine in the Supreme Court to-day to a judge mentioning specific sums of money in his direction to the jury on their probable award in claims for damages.

Mr. Justice Fair had addressed a jury, mentioning specific sums, more or less, which might be considered applicable to various aspects, to be assessed under the heading of general damages. After the jury retired Mr. Goldstine, who represented defendant, made his objection. It was made, he said, with a view to having established a general rule on the point.

His Honor: Do you hold it was not in favour of your client ? Mr. Goldstine: Not in this case, your Honor. But one cannot say, for it is impossible to know what may be in the minds of the jury. It may" be they had other ideas before certain sums were mentioned.

His Honor, commenting that the amounts mentioned were stated in each instance as "more or less, according to the view the jury might take," and were intended to assist the jury in arriving at a fair and rational computation, made a note of Mr. Goldmine's objection. "There is a deal of authority on the subject," added bis Honor, "and you may move for a ruling on' the point."