After the jury have retired for deliberation, if there be a disagreement between them as to any part of the testimony, or if they desire to be informed as to any part of the law arising in the case, they may request the officer to conduct them to the court, where the information on the point of law shall be given in writing, and the court may give its recollections as to the testimony on the point in dispute, or cause the same to be read by the stenographer in the presence of, or after notice to, the parties or their counsel.
§ 582.Information After Retirement
Chapter 11: Trial · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 582 lets a deliberating jury ask to return to court when it disagrees about part of the testimony or wants guidance on a point of law, with legal answers given in writing and testimony disputes resolved by the court's recollection or a stenographer's reading, with notice to the parties.
Full Text of § 582
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 5007.
Plain-English Summary
After the jury retires to deliberate, it may run into a disagreement about part of the testimony, or want to know more about a point of law in the case. Either way, the jury can ask the officer to bring it back to court. Any information on a point of law has to be given in writing. On a disputed point of testimony, the court may give its own recollection of that testimony, or have the stenographer read it back -- but only in the presence of, or after notice to, the parties or their counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a deliberating jury ask the judge to clarify the law in an Oklahoma case?
Yes, and the answer on any point of law must be given in writing.
How is a legal question from the jury answered?
In writing, once the jury requests to be brought back to court.
What happens if jurors disagree about what a witness said?
The court may give its own recollection of the testimony on the disputed point, or have the stenographer read it back.
Do the parties get notice when the jury asks a question during deliberations?
Yes. The court's recollection or the stenographer's reading happens in the presence of, or after notice to, the parties or their counsel.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: jury question during deliberations oklahomaread back testimony to jury oklahoma12 O.S. § 582