The door never opens for the Defense. Many times in this trial the prosecution and its witnesses have opened the door to subjects, only to have the “judge” slam it shut when MOM or West tried to go through it. She has given them a list, I am sure, of subjects that if they cover in closing, will cause Defense fault mistrial.
Normally, appeals-court judges don't take up appeals of TCJ decisions until after the end of a trial, but I'm curious how the aforementioned issues would be handled? If a TCJ is found to have declared mistrial for an illegitimate reason, would that imply that because of double-jeopardy the defendant walks? Or would a defense have to put on record an objection to the restriction and have that then be considered a reversible decision afterward?