When can a defendant face cross-examination if they have waived their Fifth Amendment privilege?

The correct answer reflects the principle that cross-examination of a defendant can occur as part of the standard trial process when the defendant has waived their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. When a defendant chooses to testify in their own defense, they effectively waive this privilege, which opens themselves up to being questioned by both the prosecution and the defense during the trial. This ensures that the jury receives a complete picture of the case, including the defendant's testimony and any relevant rebuttals that may arise during cross-examination.

In the context of a trial, the defendant takes the stand voluntarily, and their waiver of the privilege allows the prosecution to challenge their credibility and the coherence of their statements. The process of cross-examination is a fundamental right in adversarial legal systems, designed to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and the searching of truth.

The other options introduce conditions that are not consistent with this basic principle of trial procedure. For example, requiring a request from the jury or limiting such examination to the judge's discretion misunderstands the normalities of how cross-examination operates within the trial framework. Regardless, the salient point is that by waiving the Fifth Amendment privilege, the defendant places themselves in a position where they are subject to cross-examination as