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Rule 29.2 Interim Commentary

VI. Trial

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Rule Text

During the course of the trial, the court may permit counsel to address the jury to assist jurors in understanding the evidence that has been presented or will be presented. The trial court may place reasonable time limits on such statements and shall permit all counsel to respond to the remarks of any one lawyer.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Here's a plain-English summary:

During a trial, the judge can let lawyers talk to the jury while the trial is still going on, not just at the beginning and end. The point of this is to help jurors understand the evidence they've already seen or are about to see. This is different from opening statements and closing arguments, which happen at set points in the trial.

The judge gets to decide how much time each lawyer gets for these mid-trial comments. If one lawyer speaks to the jury this way, the other side's lawyer must also get a chance to respond. This keeps things fair so one side doesn't get to influence the jury without the other side having a say.

Committee Notes

Advisory Commission Comment.

This rule gives the court the discretion to allow counsel to speak directly to the jury during the trial in order to assist the jurors in understanding the context of the evidence. For example, the court may allow counsel to make a short explanation of what legal issue the next two witnesses will address. The court is given the discretion to place time and content limits on these statements, but each counsel must be given a chance to respond to the interim commentary of any lawyer.