Judge

So as to the conviction of murder in the second degree, I sentence you to a term of 25 years to life in prison.

They're questions that people from outside the system would be curious about. How does blood spatter tell the story? What does DNA really mean? How long can it last?

They're questions that people from outside the system would be curious about. How does blood spatter tell the story? What does DNA really mean? How long can it last?

Did Jason Chen have any observable cuts or injuries on his body? Could you determine where a murder occurred? Were you able to identify the driver of the Prius that was just investigated further?

Did Jason Chen have any observable cuts or injuries on his body? Could you determine where a murder occurred? Were you able to identify the driver of the Prius that was just investigated further?

Thank you, Andrea. Good to be here.

Thank you, Andrea. Good to be here.

It's a state issue. Overwhelmingly, the majority of states do allow it. 34 states and the federal system allow it. Minnesota, Texas, and Nebraska clearly have put down decisions that do not allow jurors to ask questions.

It's a state issue. Overwhelmingly, the majority of states do allow it. 34 states and the federal system allow it. Minnesota, Texas, and Nebraska clearly have put down decisions that do not allow jurors to ask questions.

Yes, it is. The judge is the one that makes the call.

Yes, it is. The judge is the one that makes the call.

What happens is the trial progresses where one side calls a witness and the other side gets to cross-examine that witness. And at that point, I will ask the jurors if they have any questions for that particular witness. They write the questions down. They pass them to the bailiff. The questions come to the bench where the lawyers will talk about whether the question should or should not be asked.

What happens is the trial progresses where one side calls a witness and the other side gets to cross-examine that witness. And at that point, I will ask the jurors if they have any questions for that particular witness. They write the questions down. They pass them to the bailiff. The questions come to the bench where the lawyers will talk about whether the question should or should not be asked.

And if it's a question that clearly cannot be asked, I won't ask it. They ask for a defendant's prior record, and it's not relevant. I just won't ask the question. If they ask if it was raining that day or if – Any other blood was found in any other spot than was testified to. Then I'll ask the question. The witness will face the jury when answering.

And if it's a question that clearly cannot be asked, I won't ask it. They ask for a defendant's prior record, and it's not relevant. I just won't ask the question. If they ask if it was raining that day or if – Any other blood was found in any other spot than was testified to. Then I'll ask the question. The witness will face the jury when answering.

Then finally, the lawyers will have the chance to redirect or recross if they feel they need to develop the testimony any further to clarify the witness's answers for the jurors.

Then finally, the lawyers will have the chance to redirect or recross if they feel they need to develop the testimony any further to clarify the witness's answers for the jurors.

Oh, there's many of them. It keeps jurors more engaged in the process. I mean, think about sitting in a classroom where you can't ask questions. If the students can't ask questions, how much of that are they really learning? As far as the actual significant weighty reasons, I think that it's a good idea to let jurors ask questions. They make more informed decisions.

Oh, there's many of them. It keeps jurors more engaged in the process. I mean, think about sitting in a classroom where you can't ask questions. If the students can't ask questions, how much of that are they really learning? As far as the actual significant weighty reasons, I think that it's a good idea to let jurors ask questions. They make more informed decisions.

Absolutely. They're questions that people from outside the system would be curious about. How does blood spatter tell the story? What does DNA really mean? How long can it last?