Meredeth v. People

Citations

• 84 Ill. 479

Syllabus

<p>1. Practice—absence of judge during argument of cause, It is error for . the judge before whom a case is being tried to leave the court room whilst the cause is being argued before the jury, and be employed in other official duties, leaving an attorney to preside in his place; and it is no less error that he is in another part of the same building than if he were in another county.</p> <p>2. The argument of a cause is as much a part of the trial as hearing the evidence, and the parties are entitled to have the judge present, and he can not, even by consent of parties, be elsewhere employed.</p>