Among other things, the panel holds that trial courts in our State have the discretion, in appropriate circumstances, to grant requests by deliberating jurors to have the closing arguments of all counsel played back or read back to them, in full or in part. In recognizing this discretionary authority, the panel follows other jurisdictions that have acknowledged the discretion of judges to allow such summation playbacks or readbacks. The panel rejects, however, defendant's contention that the denial of the jury's playback request in this case was unduly prejudicial and requires a new trial.
