Legal Definitions - comment

Definition: A comment is a statement made by a judge or attorney during a trial to the jury about the evidence presented. The comment is based on an alleged but unproven fact, which the attorney for the other side may object to. The judge may remind the jury that these comments should not be taken as evidence. Additionally, a comment may refer to a written opinion or statement made by the drafter of a rule, statute, etc.

Example: During a trial, the prosecutor may make a comment to the jury about the defendant's motive for committing the crime. The defense attorney may object to this comment if there is no evidence to support the alleged motive. The judge may then remind the jury that the comment is not evidence and should not be considered as such.

Example: A government official may make a comment about a proposed law, stating their opinion on whether it is necessary or not. This comment may be taken into consideration by lawmakers, but it is not a binding decision.

These examples illustrate how a comment is a statement made by someone in a position of authority or expertise, but it is not necessarily based on proven facts or evidence. It is important to consider the source and context of a comment before accepting it as true or accurate.