CPLR 4107 - In A civil action, when a jury is being chosen:

• A. The judge shall be present
• B. The judge must not be present
• C. The judge must be present only with both parties' consent
• D. The judge presides only over voir dire

Answer: (A)

During jury selection in a civil action, the judge must be present. This ensures the voir dire is conducted under the court’s supervision, objections and challenges to jurors are ruled on properly, and the process remains fair and transparent. The judge’s involvement isn’t limited to just voir dire; the judge oversees the entire trial from selection through verdict. Consent from the parties cannot substitute for this statutory requirement, and suggested alternatives that the judge need not be present or that the judge’s role is limited to voir dire do not align with how the process is designed to function.