Rule 11-107 Comment by court.

Judges have to stay neutral when talking to the jury. They can't share their own opinion about the evidence or say whether they think a witness is telling the truth. This means the judge can explain the law and guide the trial process, but the judge can't hint to the jury about which way to decide the case.

This matters because jurors often see the judge as an authority figure. If a judge said something like "that witness seemed nervous" or "this evidence looks weak," jurors might lean on that opinion instead of forming their own judgment. The rule keeps the judge's role separate from the jury's job, which is to weigh the evidence and decide the facts on their own.

If a judge breaks this rule, it can be grounds for an appeal, since it may have unfairly influenced the jury's decision.