There was an old country judge that had the highest criminal conviction rate in the state. When a reporter from the state capital came down to investigate this judicial phenomenon, the judge explained that he simply instructed the jury to listen very carefully to what the prosecutor had to say, then make their decision. The reporter cried indignantly, "Don't you also tell them to listen to the defense?" The judge replied, "Well, I used to, but it just confused ‘em."  read more »