Jury Selection and Voir Dire

• Author: Robert Gill/Mark G. Daniel
• Pages: 45-90

14-1

CHAPTER 14

JURY SELECTION AND

VOIR DIRE

I. Challenging the Venire

§14:01 Statutory Law

§14:02 Grounds for Challenge

§14:03 Burden of Proof

§14:04 Procedure for Challenge

II. Attaching Absent Veniremen

§14:10 Statutory Law

§14:11 Defendant’s Burden of Proof

§14:12 Procedure for Motion

III. Disqualified and Disabled Veniremen

A. Absolutely Disqualified Jurors

§14:20 Statutory Law

§14:21 Grounds for Disqualification

§14:22 Waiver of Grounds

§14:23 Conviction as a Ground for Disqualification

§14:24 Pending Case as a Ground for Disqualification

§14:25 Insanity as a Ground for Disqualification

§14:26 Other Grounds for Disqualification

B. Disabled Jurors and Alternate Jurors

§14:30 Statutory Law

§14:31 Juror Must Be Unable to Perform as a Juror

TEXAS CRIMINAL FORMS 14-2

IV. Shuffling the Venire

§14:40 Statutory Law

§14:41 Procedure for Motion to Shuffle

§14:42 Right to Reshuffle

V. Jury Questionnaires

§14:50 Questionnaires Are Important

VI. Conducting Voir Dire

A. Examining the Jury

§14:55 Individual Voir Dire Examinations

B. Additional Time to Conduct Voir Dire

§14:60 Time Limits Are Within Discretion of the Court

§14:61 Factors for Abuse of Discretion

§14:62 Procedure to Preserve Error

C. Seeking Additional Peremptory Challenges

§14:70 Statutory Law

§14:71 Procedure to Preserve Error

VII. Assembling a Special Venire

§14:80 Statutory Law

VIII. Instructions to Jurors for Note-Taking

§14:90 Arguments Against Note-Taking

§14:91 Arguments in Favor of Note-Taking

IX. Forms

Form 14-1 Challenge to the Array

Form 14-2 Motion for Attachment of Absent Veniremen

Form 14-3 Order to Attach Venireman

Form 14-4 Motion to Disqualify Veniremen

Form 14-5.1 Motion to Excuse Disabled Juror

Form 14-5.2 (Defendant’s or State’s) Motion to Exclude Alternate Juror From Deliberations

Form 14-6 Motion to Shuffle Jury

Form 14-7 Juror Questionnaire; Non-Capital Cases

Form 14-8 Jury Questionnaire; Capital Cases

Form 14-9.1 Motion to Submit Jury Questionnaire

Form 14-9.2 Defendant’s Brief in Support of Motion to Submit Jury Questionnaire

Form 14-9.3 Motion to Produce Records of Prior Jury Service and in the Alternative to Allow

Inquiry into Prior Jury Service

Form 14-9.4 Motion to Produce Criminal History Records of Veniremen and in the Alternative

to Allow Inquiry into Criminal History

Form 14-10.1 Motion for Individual Voir Dire Examination of Veniremembers (Non-Capital Case)

Form 14-10.2 Motion for Individual Voir Dire Examination of Veniremembers (Capital Case)

Form 14-11 Motion for Additional Time to Conduct Voir Dire

Form 14-12 Defendant’s Brief in Support of Motion for Additional Time to Conduct Voir Dire

Form 14-13.1 Motion for Additional Peremptory Challenges

Form 14-13.2 Motion to Require State to Exercise Challenges Pursuant To Art. 35.13

Form 14-14 Peremptory Challenge Submission

Form 14-15 Peremptory Challenge Tally Form for Capital Cases

14-3 JURY SELECTION AND VOIR DIRE

Form 14-16.1 Defendant’s Motion for Special Venire

Form 14-16.2 Defendant’s Motion for the Court to Decide Juror’s Exemptions, Excuses and

Disqualifications Pursuant to Art. 35.03

Form 14-17 Writ to Summon Special Venire

Form 14-18 Writ to Serve Defendant Jury List

Form 14-19 Jury Instruction on Note-Taking (Upon Impaneling)

Form 14-20 Jury Instruction on Note-Taking (For Jury Charges)