N.D. Cent. Code § 28-14-18

Current through 2024 Legislative Session
Section 28-14-18 - Conduct of jurors in retirement

When the case finally is submitted to the jurors, they may decide in court or retire for deliberation. If they retire, they must be kept together in some convenient place under charge of an officer, until they agree upon a verdict, are temporarily dismissed by the court, or are permanently discharged by the court. Unless, by order of the court, the officer having the jurors under the officer's charge must not suffer any communication to be made to them, or make any personally except to ask them if they have agreed upon a verdict, and the officer, before the verdict is rendered, must not communicate to anyone the state of their deliberations or the verdict agreed upon. If the jurors have not agreed upon a verdict during normal working hours of any day of deliberations, the trial judge may temporarily dismiss the jurors and direct them when to resume deliberations. If a trial jury contains both male and female members, the trial judge may direct that the female members of the jury be placed in charge of a female bailiff and permitted to retire to a suitable place for rest, and the male members of the jury placed in charge of a male bailiff for a similar purpose. Whenever the jurors are dismissed or separated, as above stated, the trial judge shall admonish the members thereof that they must not in any manner discuss the case with anyone, nor permit anyone to discuss it with them, while they are so dismissed or separated, and that they must discuss and consider the case only in the room when all members of the jury are present.

N.D.C.C. § 28-14-18