Jurors' Queries Yield Insights -- And Laughs

Sometimes the jurors' questions have produced as revealing look into a witness's concerns as any interrogation by the veteran lawyers in the courtroom.

For example, how did Vice President Cheney's press aide Cathie Martin deal with her concerns that Cheney had recommended that she cite what she believed was a top-secret document in her rebuttal of Wilson's criticisms?

"If you had concerns, why didn't you take any action?" one juror asked.

"Because the vice president of the United States had told me to say it," Martin responded. "I didn't know where I was going to go with that."

Another juror asked Martin: "Have there been other opportunities that you thought reporters had not gotten all the facts right?"

"Yes!" Martin said, her eyes rolling. "Reporters often get things incorrect."

While the lawyers may prefer to control the questioning, Walton has told them that it is important for the jurors to be able to probe the things they want answered. He has allowed jurors in his courtroom to ask questions for several years, a rare practice that is slowly becoming more common among some judges.

About 15 percent of state courts and 8 percent of federal courts permit jury questions, and three states require that questions from jurors be allowed: Arizona, Colorado and Indiana.

Though he doesn't use the practice, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth sees some benefits: It can take more time, but jurors do not have to struggle needlessly about an unanswered question once they begin their deliberations.

"It can tell both sides that something is bothering a juror," Lamberth said, "and you don't want something to bother a juror."