Who has control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence?

Who has control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence?

• A. The court shall exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence.
• B. The jury controls the process of questioning.
• C. The clerk controls the questioning.
• D. The opposing party controls the mode of interrogation.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the trial judge oversees how witnesses are questioned and how evidence is presented to keep the proceeding fair and orderly. The rule assigns the court “reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence,” so the judge decides when witnesses testify, how questions are asked (direct vs. cross), and how evidence is admitted or restricted. This helps prevent confusion, delays, or unfair tactics, and it allows rulings on admissibility and sequencing to guide the flow of the trial. The other roles don’t fit because the jury’s job is to weigh the evidence and determine credibility, not to run questioning; the clerk handles administrative tasks in court, not evidentiary control; and while a party may propose questions or object, they do not control the process—the judge rules on how questioning occurs and how evidence is presented.

The key idea is that the trial judge oversees how witnesses are questioned and how evidence is presented to keep the proceeding fair and orderly. The rule assigns the court “reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence,” so the judge decides when witnesses testify, how questions are asked (direct vs. cross), and how evidence is admitted or restricted. This helps prevent confusion, delays, or unfair tactics, and it allows rulings on admissibility and sequencing to guide the flow of the trial.

The other roles don’t fit because the jury’s job is to weigh the evidence and determine credibility, not to run questioning; the clerk handles administrative tasks in court, not evidentiary control; and while a party may propose questions or object, they do not control the process—the judge rules on how questioning occurs and how evidence is presented.