Pennsylvania’s highest court on Wednesday unanimously issued a ruling in favor of permitting comfort animals in trial court proceedings to render testimony from an anxious witness, given the court takes steps against skewing jury sympathies.

“We conclude that trial courts have the discretion to permit a witness to testify with the assistance of a comfort dog,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer wrote in an opinion on behalf of fellow justices. “In exercising that discretion, court should balance the degree to which the accommodation will assist the witness in testifying in a truthful manner against any possible prejudice to the defendant’s right to a fair trial and employ means to mitigate any such prejudice.”

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