(a) Calling by Court.
The court may not call a witness except in extraordinary circumstances or as provided for court-appointed experts. All parties are entitled to cross-examine any witness called by the court.
(b) Questioning by Court.
The court may question a witness regardless of who calls the witness.
(c) Objections.
A party may object to the court’s calling or questioning a witness either at that time or at the next opportunity when the jury is not present.
(d) Questioning by Juror.
A juror may be permitted to propound questions to a witness by submitting them in writing to the judge. The judge will decide whether to submit the questions to the witness for answer. The parties may object to the questions at the time proposed or at the next available opportunity when the jury is not present. Once the court has ruled upon the appropriateness of the written questions, it must then rule upon the objections, if any, of the parties prior to submission of the questions to the witness.