LOCAL CIVIL RULE 47 - JURORS

LR47.1E & W  Grand and Petit Juries
LR47.2  Voir Dire Examination
LR47.3  Argument of Law to Jury Prohibited
LR47.4  Contacting Prospective Jurors
LR47.5E  Interviewing Jurors
LR47.5M & W  Interviewing Jurors

LR47.1E & W  Grand and Petit Juries

        Grand and petit juries for the district shall be drawn and be in session as directed by the court.

LR47.2  Voir Dire Examination

        All voir dire examinations of prospective jurors will be conducted by the judge alone unless an exception to this rule is made by special leave of court. Counsel may submit in advance, in writing, questions to be asked upon such examination and may supplement this by oral request at side bar when necessary.

LR47.3  Argument of Law to Jury Prohibited

        In the argument of any case to a jury, counsel shall not read to the jury from any legal textbook or reported case, instruct the jury on any matter of law, or argue law to the jury.

LR47.4  Contacting Prospective Jurors

        Prospective jurors shall not be contacted, either directly or through any member of their immediate family, in an effort to secure information concerning the background of any member of the jury panel.

LR47.5E  Interviewing Jurors

        A. No juror has any obligation to speak to any person about any case and may refuse all interviews or comments;

        B. No person may make repeated requests for interviews or questions after a juror has expressed a desire not to be interviewed;

        C. Under no circumstances except by leave of court granted upon good cause shown shall any attorney or party to an action or anyone acting on their behalf examine or interview any juror. No juror who may consent to be interviewed shall disclose any information with respect to the following:

                1. The specific vote of any juror other than the juror being interviewed;

                2. The deliberation of the jury; or

                3. For the purposes of obtaining evidence of improprieties in the jury's deliberations.

[Adopted March 26, 2001]

LR47.5M & W  Interviewing Jurors

        A.    No juror has any obligation to speak to any person about any case and may refuse all interviews or comments;

        B.    No person may make repeated requests for interviews or questions after a juror has expressed his/her desire not to be interviewed;

        C.    No juror or alternate who consents to be interviewed may disclose any information with respect to the following:

                 1.    The specific vote of any juror other than the juror being interviewed;

                 2.    The deliberations of the jury; or

                 3.    For the purposes of obtaining evidence of improprieties in the jury's deliberation.

        D.    No party or their attorney shall, personally or through another person, contact, interview, examine or question any juror or alternate or any relative, friend or associate thereof, except on leave of court granted upon good cause shown.