Opinion ID: 2156350
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Plummer's objection to the trial judge's decision to permit jurors to propose questions to witnesses.

Text: Plummer first contends that the trial judge abused her discretion by permitting jurors to propose questions to witnesses. In Yeager v. Greene, 502 A.2d 980 (D.C.1985), this court declined to issue a writ of mandamus against a judge of the Superior Court who was permitting such juror participation. We stated, inter alia, that the judge's policy of allowing jurors to submit written questions to witnesses does not appear to be an abuse of his authority granted by Rule 57 to conduct witness questioning `in any lawful manner.' Id. at 985. The procedures used by the trial judge in the present case, including her explanation of the process to the jurors, were essentially the same as those used by the judge in Yeager, and at least implicitly approved by this court. We perceive no abuse of discretion.