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Rule 47 – Selecting jurors for trial

May 14, 2021 | Civil Procedure, Wyoming

(a) Qualifications. All prospective jurors must answer as to their qualifications to be jurors; such answers shall be in writing, signed under penalty of perjury and filed with the clerk of the court. The written responses of the prospective jurors shall be preserved by the clerk of the court for the longer of the following:

(1) One year after the end of the jury term; or
(2) Until all appeals from any trial held during that term of court have been finally resolved.

The judge shall inquire of the jurors in open court on the record to insure that they are qualified.

(b) Excused Jurors. For good cause but within statutory limits a judge may excuse a juror for a trial, for a fixed period of time, or for the term. All excuses shall be written and filed with the clerk or granted in open court on the record.
(c) Examination of Jurors. After the jury panel is qualified, the attorneys, or a pro se party, shall be entitled to conduct the examination of prospective jurors, but such examination shall be under the supervision and control of the judge, and the judge may conduct such further examination as the judge deems proper. The judge may assume the examination if counsel or a pro se party fail to follow this rule. If the judge assumes the examination, the judge may permit counsel or a pro se party to submit questions in writing.

(1) Purpose of Examination. The only purpose of the examination is to select a panel of jurors who will fairly and impartially hear the evidence and render a just verdict.
(2) Comments and Questions not Permitted. The court shall not permit counsel or a pro se party to attempt to precondition prospective jurors to a particular result, comment on the personal lives and families of the parties or their attorneys, or question jurors concerning the pleadings, the law, the meaning of words, or the comfort of jurors.
(3) Voir Dire Prohibitions. In voir dire examination, counsel or a pro se party shall not:

(A) Ask questions of an individual juror that cannot be asked of the panel or a group of jurors collectively;
(B) Ask questions answered in a juror questionnaire except to explain an answer;
(C) Repeat a question asked and answered;
(D) Instruct the jury on the law or argue the case; or
(E) Ask a juror what the juror’s verdict might be under any hypothetical circumstances.
(F) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in subsections 47(c)(3)(A)-(E), counsel or a pro se party shall be permitted during voir dire examination to preview portions of the evidence from the case in a non-argumentative manner when a preview of the evidence would help prospective jurors better understand the context and reasons for certain lines of voir dire questioning.
(d) Alternate Jurors. The court may direct that not more than six jurors in addition to the regular jury be called and empanelled to sit as alternate jurors. Alternate jurors in the order in which they are called shall replace jurors who, prior to the time the jury retires to consider its verdict, become or are found to be unable or disqualified to perform their duties. Alternate jurors shall be drawn in the same manner, shall have the same qualifications, shall be subject to the same examination and challenges, shall take the same oath, and shall have the same functions, powers, facilities and privileges as the regular jurors. An alternate juror who does not replace a regular juror shall be discharged when the jury retires to consider its verdict. Each side is entitled to one peremptory challenge in addition to those otherwise allowed by law if one or two alternate jurors are to be empanelled, two peremptory challenges if three or four alternate jurors are to be empanelled, and three peremptory challenges if five or six alternate jurors are to be empanelled. The additional peremptory challenges may be used against an alternate juror only, and the other peremptory challenges allowed by law shall not be used against an alternate juror.
(e) Peremptory Challenges. Each party shall be entitled to three peremptory challenges. Several defendants or several plaintiffs may be considered as a single party for the making of challenges or the court may allow additional peremptory challenges and permit them to be exercised separately or jointly.
(f) Excusing a Juror. During trial or deliberation, the court may excuse a juror for good cause.

Wyo. R. Prac. & P. 47

Adopted effective March 1, 2017