§ 1-180.1. Judge not to comment on verdict.
§1‑180.1. Judge not to comment on verdict.
In criminal actions thepresiding judge shall make no comment in open court in the presence or hearingof all, or any member or members, of the panel of jurors drawn or summoned forjury duty at any session of court, upon any verdict rendered at such sessionof court, and if any presiding judge shall make any comment as hereinprohibited, or shall praise or criticize any jury on account of its verdict,whether such comment, praise or criticism be made inadvertently orintentionally, such praise, criticism or comment by the judge shall constitutevalid grounds as a matter of right, for the continuance for the session of anyaction remaining to be tried during that week at such session of court, uponmotion of a defendant or upon motion of the State. The provisions of thissection shall not be applicable upon the hearing of motions for a new trial,motions to set aside the verdict of a jury, or a motion made in arrest ofjudgment. (1955, c. 200; 1967, c. 954, s. 3; 1971, c. 381, s.12.)