'A' is accused before the Court of Sessions of attempting to murder a police officer whilst on his…

Section 121 protects a judge from compelled questioning about judicial conduct/knowledge in that judicial capacity absent the superior court’s special order, but permits examination about other events occurring in the judge’s presence. Illustration (c) expressly allows examination of B about A’s attempted murder of a police officer during trial. That collateral event is not an inquiry into B’s adjudicative conduct.

Current law: BSA section 127 retains this distinction and attempted-murder illustration; section 170 saves specified pending Evidence Act proceedings.