9.76 Court open while jury deliberating

Once a jury goes to deliberate, the court stays "open" the whole time, even if everyone leaves the courtroom. This means the judge can still handle anything related to the case while the jury is working on its decision. For example, if the jury has a question or needs something clarified, the judge can address it right away without having to formally reopen court.

This rule matters because it lets the legal process keep moving smoothly during deliberations. The judge doesn't need to call everyone back for a new session just to deal with something that comes up while the jury is deciding the case. The court is considered active and available until the jury either reaches a verdict or gets discharged without one.