Denied transcript to jurors correct move

Prosecution and Procedure

By David J. Robinson

David J. Robinson is a lawyer, adjunct professor, author and chief deputy director for the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor.

Posted January 8, 2019 4:12 PM

We all know jury questions are fraught with danger. When the court answers the jury question, what should it tell the jury? How specific should the court be in its response? Will the jury even understand the response?One particular genre of jury question was addressed recently by the 3rd District Appellate Court: Is a jury entitled to witnesses’ trial transcripts? The appellate court essentially said, “No, not necessarily.”In People v. Stewart, 2018 IL App (3d) 160205, the defendant complained on appeal …

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