Court's Calling or examining of Witnesses

(a) Calling. When the court is the trier of fact, it 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 examining a witness either at that time or at the next opportunity when the jury is not present. (Adopted March 26, 2018, effective July 1, 2018.)