Short answer. Yes. Rule 132, Section 18 gives you that right outright: whenever a writing is shown to a witness, it may be inspected by the adverse party, with no conditions attached — you don't need the court's special permission or a specific reason to look at a document the other side is using with its own witness.
What the law says
Whenever a writing is shown to a witness, it may be inspected by the adverse party.
Rule 132, Section 18 — Right to inspect writing shown to witness. Read the full provision →
What the rule actually grants
Section 18 is short and unconditional: whenever a writing is shown to a witness, it may be inspected by the adverse party. There is no qualifier limiting this to certain kinds of documents, certain stages of the case, or certain purposes — the moment opposing counsel shows a writing to their witness during examination, you are entitled to inspect it as well.
Why this right exists
Trial procedure is built around each side being able to test the other's evidence, and a document used with a witness — whether to refresh recollection, confirm a fact, or otherwise guide testimony — can shape what that witness ultimately says. Letting the adverse party inspect the same writing means you are not left guessing at its contents while listening to testimony that is being drawn from it, which keeps the examination fair to both sides rather than one-sided.
How broadly 'a writing' should be read
The rule speaks generally of a writing shown to a witness, without narrowing the category to a particular type of document. In practice, this covers whatever document counsel physically hands to or displays before the witness in the course of examination — the triggering fact is simply that the writing was shown to the witness, not what kind of document it happens to be or what stage of the examination it was shown in.
What to do if inspection is refused
Because Section 18 states the right plainly and without conditions, if opposing counsel shows a document to their witness and then resists letting you look at it, the rule itself is the basis for insisting on inspection — this is not a discretionary courtesy extended by the other side, it is a right the rule gives to the adverse party the instant a writing is shown to a witness in the examination.
Where this comes up beyond trial testimony
Although the example that usually comes to mind is a document shown to a witness on the stand during trial, the writing-inspection right in this section is not phrased narrowly to trial testimony alone. Any time a writing is physically shown to a witness in the course of examination, the adverse party's right to inspect it under this section is engaged, which is why parties preparing for a hearing should expect the same inspection right to apply wherever a witness is being examined with a document in hand.
Related provisions
- Rule 132, Section 17 — When part of transaction, writing or record given in evidence, the remainder admissible
- Rule 132, Section 19 — Classes of documents