What are the disadvantages of juror questions?
Some disadvantages may include: • Permitting jurors to ask questions may confuse their role as neutral fact finders, assuming instead the role of advocates; • Jurors may interpret the trial judges failure to ask a question as an indication that the witnesss testimony should be discounted; • Jurors may be offended or angry if all of their questions are not answered; and • Permitting jurors to ask questions of witnesses adds to the length of trial proceedings.
