Rule 1.915.Impaneling jury
Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended April 21, 2021 · Last verified July 15, 2026
Full Text of Rule 1.915
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.915 walks through the mechanics of putting a civil jury in the box. A person the court designates draws 16 jurors' names from a box without seeing them, listing everyone drawn; computer selection can substitute for physical ballots. Either party can require that the names of all jurors be called before the drawing starts, with an attachment process for anyone absent who is not tied up in another trial, though the court decides in its discretion whether to wait for that return.
Once drawn, the prospective jurors are sworn, and the parties get to examine them, with the court free to conduct its own examination and to exclude a juror on its own motion. From there, challenges take over: objections to trial jurors for cause, aimed either at the whole panel or at an individual juror, with the court deciding both the law and the facts on every challenge. A challenge to the panel must come in writing before any juror is sworn, and if the court sustains it, the entire panel is discharged and none of its members can serve at that trial. A challenge to an individual juror has to come before the jury is sworn to try the case, and the juror must answer any pertinent questions the challenge raises.
Rule 1.915(6) lists specific grounds available for a for-cause challenge — among them, a felony conviction where citizenship rights have not been restored, missing a statutory qualification, a physical or mental defect that would keep someone from serving, a close family relationship to the adverse party, being an employee, agent, landlord, tenant, or household member of the adverse party, already having sat on a trial of the same issues, or having formed an opinion on the merits that would keep the juror from rendering a just verdict. After challenges are resolved, each side strikes four jurors, with the court able to authorize more jurors and strikes when several parties are represented by different counsel; plaintiff and defendant then alternate their strikes. The eight jurors left once all challenges and strikes are complete make up the jury, and they are sworn to try the case solely on the evidence and the court's instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jurors are drawn to start the selection process, and how many end up on the jury?
Rule 1.915(1) has 16 jurors drawn by blind draw from a box (or by computer selection). After challenges and strikes are resolved, Rule 1.915(9) seats the eight jurors who remain on the list.
How many strikes does each side get?
Rule 1.915(7) gives each side four strikes, though the court can authorize additional jurors and strikes when more than two parties are represented by different counsel.
What are some of the grounds for challenging a juror for cause?
Rule 1.915(6) lists specific grounds, including an unrestored felony conviction, lack of a statutory qualification, a physical or mental defect preventing service, close family relationship to the adverse party, being an employee or household member of the adverse party, having already sat on a trial of the same issues, and having formed an opinion on the merits that would prevent a just verdict.
What is the difference between challenging the panel and challenging an individual juror?
A challenge to the panel under Rule 1.915(4) must be in writing before any juror is sworn and can rest only on a material departure from the statutory requirements for drawing or returning the jury; if sustained, the whole panel is discharged. A challenge to an individual juror under Rule 1.915(5) must come before the jury is sworn to try the case and targets that one juror.
Who decides whether a challenge to a juror succeeds?
Rule 1.915(3) has the court determine both the law and the facts on every challenge, and the court must either allow or deny it.