I had no idea how it would work. At the beginning of every trial, Harris reads the jury a set of instructions that explains how they can ask questions. Attorneys in the case review the questions with the judge. Even the bad ones are usually not really bad. Jurors often want to know about insurance in civil cases, and I have to explain to them that they are triers of fact.
Insurance is usually an issue for the court to sort out.
They simply want to know their role. Proponents say letting jurors ask questions improves their overall interest in a case, deepens their concentration on evidence and testimony and heightens their awareness of their fact-finding mission. As a result, they make better decisions. Critics worry that allowing questions from jurors may alter the dynamics of traditional relationships among jurors, witnesses and attorneys, transforming jurors from neutral arbiters into active advocates or adversaries. Medford attorney Kelly Andersen said he was nervous about the rules at first.