To questions of fact judges do not answer; to questions of law the jury does not answer.

Explanation

The division between judge and jury is fundamental — the jury finds what happened; the judge declares what the law requires. Neither may usurp the province of the other.

Where this applies

• The judge told the jury what to decide instead of letting them find the facts.
• The jury tried to interpret the law instead of sticking to the facts — that's the judge's job.

See also

• 8.1.4 A judge must decide according to the facts alleged and proved.
• 8.2.4 Jurors ought to be neighbors, of sufficient estate, and above all suspicion.