(a) Upon motion of a party or its own motion, the circuit court may direct the jury to be placed in charge of an officer of the court and taken personally to view the property sought to be taken. Upon like motion, if the case is tried before the circuit court without a jury, the judge presiding at the trial may view the property. The circuit court may prescribe additional terms and conditions consistent with this section.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 18-1A-191

  • circuit: means judicial circuit. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) During a view of the property by the jury, the judge presiding at the trial shall be present and supervise the proceedings. The parties, their attorneys, engineers, and other representatives may be present during a view by the jury or judge.
(c) During a view, only the judge presiding at the trial or person designated by the circuit court may make a statement to the jury relating to the subject matter of the action, and any such statement must be transcribed as a part of the record.
(d) The physical characteristics of the property and of surrounding property, and any other matters observed during a view, may be considered by the trier of fact solely for the purpose of understanding and weighing the valuation evidence received at the trial, and do not constitute independent evidence on the issue of the amount of compensation.
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