Primary source materials like statutes, court rules, and caselaw may also need to be consulted; see the Federal Research guides for how to access these primary source materials.
"Voir dire is the process by which the court and the lawyers first question jurors and then decide which members of the jury pool will hear a particular case. Although often described as a process of jury selection, voir dire is in fact the process of de-selection where lawyers seek to identify the least suitable jurors for the case and then have those jurors either struck for cause or excused through a peremptory challenge." James J. Gobert et al., Jury Selection: The Law, Art, and Science of Selecting a Jury § 10.1 (3rd ed).
The resources below include information related to voir dire in federal court. The resources include sources available on Jenkins' member databases and in print in the library. Onsite Lexis and Westlaw access is noted when available.
The chapters/sections listed below are included as a starting place for that resource. Additional chapters/sections may apply. Consult the index or conduct a search in the resource to find additional material.
Treatises on federal civil or criminal practice may include additional information. Search the Jenkins' catalog or Ask Us for more suggestions.
The following resources include sample forms related to voir dire in federal court.
Bender's Federal Practice Forms LexisNexis
Also on the LexisNexis Digital Library.
For civil matters, see Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 47: Selecting Jurors.
For criminal matters, see Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 24: Trial Jurors.
Federal Procedural Forms West/Thomson Reuters
Available on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see Chapter 1D, Part B, Subpart 5: Jury Selection and Voir Dire.
For criminal matters, see Chapter 20, Part B, Subpart 2: Selection of Jury.
West's Federal Forms West/Thomson Reuters
Also on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see District Courts, Civil, Chapter 28, Part III, Subpart 2B: Drawing, Summoning, Voir Dire Examination, Qualifications, and Challenging of Jurors.
For criminal matters, see District Courts, Criminal, Chapter 90, Part V: The Jury (Rule 24), Part VI: The Jury (Rule 24) - Overview, and Part VII: Jury Composition (Rule 24) - Forms.
The following member database includes information related to voir dire in federal court. Members must be logged in to jenkinslaw.org to access this database. This database is also available in the library.
Bender's Federal Practice Forms
Available on the LexisNexis Digital Library.
For civil matters, see Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 47: Selecting Jurors (vol. 9).
For criminal matters, see Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 24: Trial Jurors (vol. 17).
Also available in print.
The following resources include information related to voir dire in federal court. Some resources published by LexisNexis and West/Thomson Reuters may be available on the library's Lexis and Westlaw computers. See below for more information.
Treatises on federal civil or criminal practice may include additional information. Search the Jenkins' catalog or Ask Us for more suggestions.
Bender's Federal Practice Forms LexisNexis
Also on the LexisNexis Digital Library.
For civil matters, see Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 47: Selecting Jurors.
For criminal matters, see Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 24: Trial Jurors.
Federal Practice and Procedure West/Thomson Reuters
Also on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 7, Rule 47: Selecting Jurors.
For criminal matters, see Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 7, Rule 23: Trial by Jury or by the Court and Rule 24: Trial Jurors.
Also referred to as Wright & Miller. Library has previous editions: see all.
Federal Procedural Forms West/Thomson Reuters
Available on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see Chapter 1D, Part I, Subpart B, Sub-subpart 5: Jury Selection and Voir Dire.
For criminal matters, see Chapter 20, Part XVI, Subpart B, Sub-subpart 2: Selection of Jury.
Federal Procedure, Lawyer's Edition West/Thomson Reuters
Available on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see Chapter 77, Part VII: Selection of Jurors.
For criminal matters, see Chapter 22, Part XV, Subpart D: Impaneling Jurors.
Moore's Federal Practice LexisNexis
Also on the library's Lexis computers.
For civil matters, see Civil, Chapter 47: Selecting Jurors.
For criminal matters, see Criminal, Chapter 624: Trial Jurors.
Library has previous edition and selected pamphlets: see all.
West's Federal Forms West/Thomson Reuters
Also on the library's Westlaw computers.
For civil matters, see District Courts, Civil, Chapter 28, Part III, Subpart B: Drawing, Summoning, Voir Dire Examination, Qualifications, and Challenging of Jurors.
For criminal matters, see District Courts, Criminal, Chapter 90, Part V: The Jury (Rule 24), Part VI: The Jury (Rule 24) - Overview, and Part VII: Jury Composition (Rule 24) - Forms.
Court rules often outline the procedures surrounding jury trials. Federal Court Rules are available for free online from the United States Courts website. The following rules focus on voir dire and jury selection in federal civil and criminal procedure. Please note that additional rules may also apply.
Civil Rules:
Fed.R.Civ.P. 47: Selecting Jurors
Criminal Rules:
Fed.R.Crim.P. 24: Trial Jurors
Federal Court Rules are available for free online from the United States Courts website. For additional places to find Federal Court Rules, including in print and on the library's Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law computers, see the Federal Court Rules guide.