COLJI-Crim. B:05

Rules governing jury trials do not allow jurors to ask questions

directly of a witness. However, if you have a question you would like to

ask a witness during the trial, write your question down, but do not sign it.

Before the witness is permitted to leave, I will ask if anyone has a question

for the witness. [Occasionally, I forget to ask. If that should happen and

any of you have a question, please signal the bailiff or me before the

witness leaves the stand.]

I may discuss the question with the attorneys. If I decide the

question is proper, it will be asked when appropriate. Keep in mind,

however, that the rules of evidence or other rules of law may prevent some

questions from being asked. I will apply the same legal standards to your

questions as I do to the questions asked by the attorneys.

If a particular question is not asked, do not guess why or what the

answer might have been. If I don’t ask a proposed question it is not a

reflection on the person proposing it, and you should not attach any

significance to it.