UCRCCC 3.10

The court may direct the jury to select one of its members to preside over the

deliberations and to write out and return any verdict agreed upon, and admonish the jurors

that, until they are discharged as jurors in the cause, they may communicate upon subjects

connected with the trial only while the jury is convened in the jury room for the purpose of

reaching a verdict.

The jurors shall be kept together for deliberations as the court reasonably directs.

The court shall permit the jury, upon retiring for deliberation, to take to the jury room

the instructions and exhibits and writings which have been received in evidence, except

depositions.

After the jurors have retired to consider their verdict the court shall not recall the jurors

to hear additional evidence.

The court, after notice to all attorneys, may recall the jury after it has retired and give

such additional written instructions to the jury as the court deems appropriate.

If the jury, after they retire for deliberation, desires to be informed of any point of law,

the court shall instruct the jury to reduce its question to writing and the court in its discretion,

after affording the parties an opportunity to state their objections or assent, may grant

additional written instructions in response to the jury's request.

If it appears to the court that the jury has been unable to agree, the court may require the

jury to continue their deliberations and may give an appropriate instruction.

If it appears to the court that there is no reasonable probability of agreement, the jury

may be discharged without having agreed upon a verdict and a mistrial granted.

When the jurors have agreed upon a verdict they shall be conducted into the courtroom

by the officer having them in charge. The court shall ask the foreman or the jury panel if an

agreement has been reached on a verdict. If the foreman or the jury panel answers in the

affirmative, the judge shall call upon the foreman or any member of the panel to deliver the

verdict in writing to the clerk or the court. The court may then examine the verdict and

correct it as to matters of form. The clerk or the court shall then read the verdict in open

court in the presence of the jury. The court shall inquire if either party desires to poll the jury,

or the court may on its own motion poll the jury. If neither party nor the court desires to poll

the jury, the verdict shall be ordered filed and entered of record and the jurors discharged

from the cause. If the court, on its own motion, or on motion of either party, polls the jury,

each juror shall be asked by the court if the verdict rendered is that juror's verdict. Where

the required number of jurors have voted in the affirmative for the verdict, the court shall

order the verdict filed and entered of record and discharge the jury. If less than the required

number of jurors cannot agree, the court may: 1) return the jury for further deliberations or

2) declare a mistrial. No motion to poll the jury shall be entertained after the verdict is

ordered to be filed and entered of record or the jury is discharged.

If a verdict is so defective that the court cannot determine from it the intent of the jury,

the court shall, with proper instructions, direct the jurors to reconsider the verdict. No verdict

shall be accepted until it clearly reflects the intent of the jury. If the jury persists in rendering

defective verdicts the court shall declare a mistrial.

While it is appropriate for the court to thank jurors at the conclusion of a trial for their

public service, such comments should not include praise or criticism of their verdict.

After the verdict has been received by the court and entered on the record, the testimony

or affidavits of the jurors shall not be received to impeach the verdict, except as permitted

by the Mississippi Rules of Evidence.