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The Judge's Charge
Friday, January 20, 1950
Next Judge Goddard talked to the jury. He charged or instructed the jury with the law. He explained how the law applied to this case, and how the jury must follow it in thinking about the case and reaching their verdict. A judge's charge is supposed to be impartial—favoring neither one side nor the other.
You must decide if Mr. Hiss committed perjury—if he willfully gave false testimony while under oath.
There has been much testimony about Mr. Hiss's good character. Evidence of good character may create a reasonable doubt where without such evidence no reasonable doubt would exist. But if the evidence satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, you should not acquit him because previously he had a good reputation. Perhaps he did
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