Robert P. Taylor's JuryDuty: reflections on a trial
A good bit of the delay during trial proceedings is caused by uncertainty over legal or procedural details, as perceived by an attorney or the judge. Unless the judge feels certain of the best resolution of the uncertainty, the admonition for the attorneys to "Approach the bench." is sure to be heard. Everything stops then while the officials huddle and murmur inaudibly about the point in question. Either the judge will pro forma issue his opinion and command the trial to proceed on the spot, or the jury will be sent back to their tiny deliberating room to allow a more extended and private discussion between judge and attorneys. Here's my only sketch of such a moment, showing the Assistant District Attorney (left), her apprentice (right), and the defense attorney (center), at the bench.