I keep hearing that, and I saw when she asked him with the jury absent. I understand that's SOP. What I can't get an answer to from the armchair lawyers that could watch the stream (I couldn't) was, what about the first time she asked him? She asked Zimmerman twice, and the first time the Defense was furious. Since West was in the middle of questioning a witness, I think that was in front of the Jury and therefore improper.
But I don't know because the great minds are silent when I ask.
According to this story, the jury was not present when Judge Nelson asked Zimmerman if he planned to testify. He replied that he needed until "the end of the day" to decide, while overruling Don West's objections to her questions. She then agreed to give Z more time, while maintaining that the court has the right to know if Z will testify.
Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfit-b7FU-U
It's not possible to tell from the videos whether the jury is present or not, unless they happen to mention the fact one way or the other.
The attorney at WTF TV said that the judge was improper to ask GZ about whether he would testify prior to all the witnesses for the defense were through. The jury was not present at the time, but this was another indication that she was veering from accepted protocal. She could have, and should have, waited until the defense was through.