Jurors deliberate privately with access to admitted exhibits and instructions. They may submit questions to the court, which are answered on the record with counsel present. Alternates are typically excused.
Deliberations are not recorded.
Alternative Names:
Deliberations, Jury Deliberations
Why it Matters?
Jury questions during deliberation are the only visibility into the reasoning, and they frequently reveal which issue the jury is struggling with. Responding requires care, since an answer going beyond the instructions can create error while a refusal to answer may leave the jury guessing. Proposing a response that directs the jury to the relevant existing instruction is the standard approach.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What do jury questions reveal?
How should questions be answered?
