Rule 21 Trial Procedure shall be in accordance with statute or rule of the Supreme Court.

21.01 Trial procedure shall be in accordance with statute or rule of the Supreme Court. The Court reserves the right to require appropriate attire from attorneys, parties, witnesses and spectators.

21.02 Voir Dire

Unless otherwise permitted by the Assigned Judge, voir dire questions will be limited to the prospective jurors seated inside the rail of the Court. All questions that may be asked of the panel as a whole shall be asked of the panel as a whole. All questions must reasonably relate to the ability of the prospective juror to be a fair and impartial juror. Counsel will not be permitted to ask questions that relate to the substantive law of the case, although questions that relate to the burden of proof, presumption of innocence in criminal cases and other similar inquiry will be permitted.

If a jury questionnaire has been used, counsel may not repeat any question contained in the questionnaire. Where answers in the questionnaire indicate that further inquiry is pertinent, such inquiry will be permitted.

The persistent failure to follow these rules may result in the Court requiring counsel to submit all voir dire questions in writing to be asked by the Judge.

21.03 Counsel

Except by permission of the Judge, one counsel for each adverse party will be permitted to speak on any interlocutory motion, or upon any question arising in the trial of a cause or proceeding. One counsel for each adverse party will be permitted to examine the same witness in any trial or proceeding before the Court. A witness, not a party, who has been examined cannot be recalled without permission of the Court.

21.04 Microphones

All questions must be asked from a microphone, either at counsel table or at a podium, unless the Court has granted permission to ask questions from beside the witness. No question may be asked of a witness who is not seated in the witness stand without permission of the judge and only if the witness is close enough to a microphone to permit the recording of a answer. Witnesses will be permitted to leave the witness stand only to point to exhibits or demonstrate for the jury.

©2006 Washington County
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED