(a) Application. This section shall apply to all civil cases heard by a jury in any court.
(b) Where the court determines that the jury’s deliberations may be expedited or assisted by having a copy of the court’s instructions available during deliberations, the court, upon its own motion or the motion of a party and after affording the parties an opportunity to be heard, may direct that at least one copy of the instructions be furnished to the jury when it retires to consider its verdict. If the court so directs, it shall state its reasons for doing so on the record. Where the copy thereby furnished is other than a transcript of the minutes of the proceedings, the court shall certify thereon that it is a correct copy of its instructions. Any copy of the instructions provided to the jurors in accordance with this subdivision shall be retrieved from the jury at the close of deliberations, and shall be filed with the clerk of the court.
Historical Note
Sec. filed Oct. 14, 1999 eff. Dec. 28, 1998.