Why is the jury sometimes asked to leave the courtroom in the middle of a trial?

The judge may decide to send the jury from the courtroom in the middle of a trial. While the jury is gone, the attorneys and the judge will discuss points of law or whether certain evidence can be admitted. The purpose of these discussions is to make sure that the jury hears only the evidence that is legally valid before making its decision. You will be called back to the courtroom when the judge's decision is made.

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1. Can I talk to anyone about the trial while it is going on?
2. Can I watch news reports of the trial or read newspaper accounts of it?
3. How are criminal cases tried?
4. What if I accidentally hear something about the trial outside the courtroom, or if someone contacts me about the trial while it is still going on?
5. What if I need a break during the trial?
6. What are Jury Instructions?
7. What are my responsibilities now that I'm part of a jury?
8. What are the two types of criminal cases?
9. What happens during a civil trial?
10. What is a "question of fact"?
11. What is a "question of law"?
12. What should I do when testimony is stricken from the record?
13. Who awards damages in a civil case?
14. Who else will be in the courtroom? What will they be doing?
15. Who sets the punishment in a criminal case?
16. Why do the attorneys object to certain statements or evidence?
17. Why is the jury sometimes asked to leave the courtroom in the middle of a trial?