Minnesota Statutes Court Rules GEN PRAC CIV TRBK Section 6. Voir Dire of Jurors

(a) Swearing Jurors to Answer. The entire panel shall be sworn by the clerk to truthfully answer the voir dire questions put to them. The clerk shall then draw the names of the necessary persons who shall take their appropriate seats in the jury box.

(b) Statement of the Case to and Examination of Prospective Jurors. The court shall make a brief statement to the prospective jurors introducing the counsel and parties and outlining the case, contentions of the parties, and anticipated issues to be tried and may then permit the parties or their lawyers to conduct voir dire or may itself do so.In the latter event, the court shall permit the parties or their lawyers to supplement the voir dire by such further nonrepetitive inquiry as it deems proper.

(c) Challenges for Cause. A challenge for cause may be made at any time during voir dire by any party or at the close of voir dire by all parties.

(d) Peremptory Challenges. Each adverse party shall be entitled to two peremptory challenges, which shall be made alternately beginning with the defendant. The parties to the action shall be deemed two, plaintiffs being one party, defendants the other. If the court finds that two or more defendants have adverse interests, the court shall allow each adverse defendant additional peremptory challenges. When there are multiple adverse parties, the court shall determine the order of exercising peremptory challenges.

(e) Voir Dire of Replacements. When a prospective juror is excused, the replacement shall be asked by the court:

If the replacement answers in the affirmative to (3) above, the court shall inquire further as to those differing answers and counsel may make such supplemental examination as the court deems proper.

(f) Alternates. [Deleted Dec. 17, 1999, eff. Jan. 1, 2000].