As amended through October 18, 2024
Rule RCr 9.36 - Challenges to individual jurors(1) Challenges for cause shall be made first by the Commonwealth and then by the defense. No peremptory challenge shall be permitted before the voir dire has been completed for all parties. When there is reasonable ground to believe that a prospective juror cannot render a fair and impartial verdict on the evidence, that juror shall be excused as not qualified. (2) After the parties have been given the opportunity of challenging jurors for cause, each side or party having the right to exercise peremptory challenges shall be handed a list of qualified jurors drawn from the box equal to the number of jurors to be seated plus the number of allowable peremptory challenges for all parties. Peremptory challenges shall be exercised simultaneously by striking names from the list and returning it to the trial judge. If the number of prospective jurors remaining on the list exceeds the number of jurors to be seated, the cards bearing numbers identifying the prospective jurors shall be placed in a box and thoroughly mixed, following which the clerk shall draw at random the number of cards necessary to comprise the jury or, if so directed by the court, a sufficient number of cards to reduce the jury to the number required by law, in which latter event the prospective jurors whose identifying cards remain in the box shall be empaneled as the jury. (3) All challenges must be made before the jury is sworn. No prospective, juror may be challenged after being accepted unless the court for good cause permits it. (4) If trial counsel so moves, the written record on appeal shall include the juror strike sheets. Amended by Order 98-3, eff. 3/1/1999; prior amendments eff. 9/1/1993 (Order 93-1), 9/1/1981 (Order 81-5), 1/1/1980, 1/1/1978, 1/1/1967; adopted eff. 1/1/1963