RULE ER 614
           CALLING AND INTERROGATION OF WITNESSES
                          BY COURT


    (a) Calling by Court. The court may, on its own motion where
necessary in the interests of justice or on motion of a party,
call witnesses, and all parties are entitled to cross-examine
witnesses thus called.

    (b) Interrogation by Court. The court may interrogate
witnesses, whether called by itself or by a party; provided,
however, that in trials before a jury, the court's questioning
must be cautiously guarded so as not to constitute a comment on
the evidence.

    (c) Objections. Objections to the calling of witnesses by the
court or to interrogation by it may be made at the time or at the
next available opportunity when the jury is not present.


[Adopted effective April 2, 1979.]


               Comment 614

[Deleted effective September 1, 2006.]