Court's Calling or Examining a Witness

(a) Calling. The court may call a witness on its own or at a party’s request. Each party is entitled to cross-examine the witness. (b) Examining. The court may examine a witness regardless of who calls the witness. (c) Objections. A party may object to the court's calling or examining a witness either at that time or at the next opportunity when the jury is not present. 2016 NHRE Update Committee Note The amendments made by supreme court order dated April 20, 2017, effective July 1, 2017, made stylistic and substantive changes. The language of New Hampshire Rule of Evidence 614 is now identical to Federal Rule of Evidence 614. Former New Hampshire Rule of Evidence stated that a judge may not ordinarily interrogate a witness. The Committee recommended adoption of the Federal Rule because, as a practical matter, courts do interrogate witnesses.