State v. Skerkavich

Citations

• 2019 Ohio 4973

Syllabus

Evid.R. 614(B) judicial questions of witness R.C. 2945.06 bench trial biased and prejudicial judge structural error. In a bench trial, the judge's questions to the defendant demonstrated bias and prejudice. The judge abandoned his duty as an impartial factfinder and interrogated the defendant on matters that were inadmissible and immaterial. As such, the presence of a biased and prejudicial judge was a structural error requiring reversal of the defendant's conviction.