Indiana Rules of Court
Jury Rules
Including Amendments Received Through January 1, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RULE 4. NOTICE OF SELECTION FOR JURY POOL AND SUMMONS FOR JURY SERVICE
RULE 10. JUROR SAFETY AND PRIVACY
RULE 13. JURY PANEL: OATH OR AFFIRMATION BY PROSPECTIVE JURORS
RULE 15. EXAMINATION OF THE JURY PANEL
RULE 18. NUMBER OF PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES
RULE 19. OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF THE JURY
RULE 20. PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS
RULE 22. PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE
RULE 24. PROCEDURE FOR JUROR WITH PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE IN CRIMINAL CASES
RULE 28. ASSISTING JURORS AT AN IMPASSE
RULE 29. SEPARATION DURING DELIBERATION
RULE 30. JUDGE TO READ THE VERDICT
These rules shall govern petit jury assembly, selection, and management in all courts of the State of Indiana. Rules 2 through 10 shall govern grand jury assembly and selection.
The judges of the trial courts shall administer the jury assembly process. The judges may appoint clerical personnel to aid in the administration of the jury system. Any person appointed to administer the jury assembly process is a jury administrator. The jury administrator shall compile the jury pool annually by selecting names from lists approved by the Supreme Court. In compiling the jury pool, the jury administrator shall avoid duplication of names.
The jury administrator shall randomly draw names from the jury pool as needed to establish jury panels for jury selection. Prospective jurors shall not be drawn from bystanders or any source except the jury pool.
RULE 4. NOTICE OF SELECTION FOR JURY POOL AND SUMMONS FOR JURY SERVICE
Not later than seven (7) days after the date of the drawing of names from the jury pool, the jury administrator shall mail to each person whose name is drawn a juror qualification form, and notice of the period during which any service may be performed. The judges of the courts of record in the county shall select, by local rule, one of the following procedures for summoning jurors:
(a) Single tier notice and summons. The jury administrator may send a summons at the same time the jury qualification form and notice is mailed. If so, the jury administrator shall send the jury qualification form and summons to prospective jurors at least six (6) weeks before jury service.
(b) Two tier notice and summons. The jury administrator may send summons at a later time. If the jury administrator sends the jury qualification form and notice first, the jury administrator shall summon prospective jurors at least one (1) week before service.
The summons shall include the following information: directions to court, parking, public transportation, compensation, court policies regarding the use of electronic communication devices (i.e. cell phones, PDAs, smart phones, etc.), attire, meals, and how to obtain auxiliary aids and services required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The judge may direct the jury administrator to include a questionnaire to be completed by each prospective juror.
A judge may order prospective jurors to appear upon less notice when, in the course of jury selection, it becomes apparent that additional prospective jurors are required in order to complete jury selection.
A judge may authorize the jury administrator to use technological programs for receiving responses to juror qualification forms or to supplement information provided to jurors in the notice of selection and summons. The judge may authorize automated telephone services or web-based programs which include appropriate verification, such as juror identification numbers, PIN numbers, and passwords. The judge must ensure that jurors who are unable or unwilling to use these technological programs are able to complete the proper forms and receive the above-required information by contacting the jury administrator.
The court shall determine if the prospective jurors are qualified to serve, or, if disabled but otherwise qualified, could serve with reasonable accommodation. In order to serve as a juror, a person shall state under oath or affirmation that he or she is:
(a) a citizen of the United States;
(b) at least eighteen (18) years of age;
(c) a resident of the summoning county;
(d) able to read, speak, and understand, the English language;
(e) not suffering from a physical or mental disability that prevents him or her from rendering satisfactory jury service;
(f) not under a guardianship appointment because of mental incapacity;
(g) not a person who has had rights to vote revoked by reason of a felony conviction and whose rights to vote have not been restored; and
(h) not a law enforcement officer, if the trial is for a criminal case.
Persons who are not eligible for jury service shall not serve. Upon timely advance request from the prospective juror, the court may excuse from reporting for jury service any person whose bona fide religious conviction and affiliation with a religion prevents the prospective juror from performing jury service.
A person may claim exemption from jury service only if the person (1) has completed a term of jury service in the twenty-four (24) months preceding the date of the person's summons, or (2) is exempt from jury service pursuant to an exemption expressly provided by statute.
The judge or judge's designee may authorize deferral of jury service for up to one (1) year upon a showing of hardship, extreme inconvenience, or necessity.
The facts supporting juror disqualifications, exemptions, and deferrals shall be recorded under oath or affirmation. No disqualification, exemption, or deferral shall be authorized unless the facts support it. These records shall be kept for a minimum of two (2) years.
(a) A person who appears for service as a petit juror serves until the conclusion of the first trial in which the juror is sworn, regardless of the length of the trial or the manner in which the trial is disposed. A person who appears for service by reporting to the courthouse and being recorded as present for jury service and not deferred but is not selected and sworn as a juror completes the person's service when jury selection is completed; provided, however, jurors who are called for jury service are eligible to serve in any court in that county on the day summoned.
(b) A person who:
(2) serves until jury selection is completed, but is not chosen to serve as a juror;
may not be selected for another jury panel until all nonexempt persons in the jury pool for that year have been called for jury duty.
(c) A person who serves until jury selection is completed, but is not chosen to serve as a juror may be placed back in the jury pool and eligible for additional terms of service upon making a written request to the court.
RULE 10. JUROR SAFETY AND PRIVACY
Trial courts shall provide prospective jurors with orientation prior to the selection process so they may understand their role in our legal system. Jury orientation shall include a standard presentation recommended by the Indiana Judicial Conference.
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, jury selection shall be recorded including all sidebar conferences.
RULE 13. JURY PANEL: OATH OR AFFIRMATION BY PROSPECTIVE JURORS
The jury panel consists of those prospective jurors who answered their summons by reporting for jury service. The judge shall administer the following to the prospective jurors of the jury panel: “Do you swear or affirm that you will honestly answer any question asked of you during jury selection?”
(a) After welcoming the jury panel, the judge shall introduce the panel to the case. Unless sufficiently covered by the jury orientation, the judge's introduction to the case shall include at least the following:
(1) Introduction of the participants;
(3) The applicable standard of proof;
(4) The applicable burden(s) of proof;
(5) The presumption of innocence in a criminal case;
(6) The appropriate means by which jurors may address their private concerns to the judge;
(7) The appropriate standard of juror conduct;
(8) The anticipated course of proceedings during trial; and
(9) The rules regarding challenges.
(b) To facilitate the jury panel's understanding of the case, with the court's consent the parties may present brief statements of the facts and issues (mini opening statements) to be determined by the jury.
RULE 15. EXAMINATION OF THE JURY PANEL
Examination of jurors shall be governed by Trial Rule 47(D).
(a) In all criminal cases, if the defendant is charged with: murder, a Class A, B, or C felony, including any enhancement(s), a Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 felony, including any enhancement(s) the jury shall consist of twelve (12) persons, unless the parties and the court agree to a lesser number of jurors. If the defendant is charged with any other crime, the jury shall consist of six (6) persons. The court shall determine the number of alternate jurors to be seated. The verdict shall be unanimous.
(b) In all civil cases, the jury shall consist of six (6) persons, unless the parties agree to a lesser number of jurors before the jury is selected. The verdict shall be unanimous, unless the parties stipulate before the verdict is announced that a verdict or finding of a stated majority of the jurors shall be taken as the verdict or finding of the jury. The number of alternate jurors shall be governed by Trial Rule 47(B).
(a) In both civil and criminal cases the parties shall make all challenges for cause before the jury is sworn to try the case, or upon a showing of good cause for the delay, before the jury retires to deliberate. The court shall sustain a challenge for cause if the prospective juror:
(1) is disqualified under rule 5;
(2) served as a juror in that same county within the previous three hundred sixty-five (365) days in a case that resulted in a verdict;
(3) will be unable to comprehend the evidence and the instructions of the court due to any reason including defective sight or hearing, or inadequate English language communication skills;
(4) has formed or expressed an opinion about the outcome of the case, and is unable to set that opinion aside and render an impartial verdict based upon the law and the evidence;
(5) was a member of a jury that previously considered the same dispute involving one or more of the same parties;
(6) is related within the fifth degree to the parties, their attorneys, or any witness subpoenaed in the case;
(7) has a personal interest in the result of the trial;
(8) is biased or prejudiced for or against a party to the case; or
(9) is a person who has been subpoenaed in good faith as a witness in the case.
(b) In criminal cases the court shall sustain a challenge for cause if the prospective juror:
(1) was a member of the grand jury that issued the indictment;
(2) is a defendant in a pending criminal case;
(3) in a case in which the death penalty is sought, is not qualified to serve in a death penalty case under law; or
(4) has formed or expressed an opinion about the outcome of the case which appears to be founded upon
a. a conversation with a witness to the transaction;
b. reading or hearing witness testimony or a report of witness testimony.
(c) In civil cases the court shall sustain a challenge for cause if the prospective juror is interested in another suit, begun or contemplated, involving the same or a similar matter.
RULE 18. NUMBER OF PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES
(a) In criminal cases the defendant and prosecution each may challenge peremptorily:
(1) twenty (20) jurors in prosecutions where the death penalty or life without parole is sought;
(2) ten (10) jurors when neither the death penalty nor life without parole is sought in prosecutions for murder, and Class A, B, or C felonies, including enhancements, and Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 felonies, including any enhancement(s); and
(3) five (5) jurors in prosecutions for all other crimes.
When several defendants are tried together, they must join their challenges.
(b) In civil cases each side may challenge peremptorily three (3) jurors.
(c) In selection of alternate jurors in both civil and criminal cases:
(1) one (1) peremptory challenge shall be allowed to each side in both criminal and civil cases for every two (2) alternate jurors to be seated;
(2) the additional peremptory challenges under this subsection may be used only in selecting alternate jurors; and
(3) peremptory challenges authorized for selection of jurors may not be used in selecting alternate jurors.
(d) If it appears to the court that a particular peremptory challenge may have been used in a constitutionally impermissible manner, the court upon its own initiative may (a) inform the parties of the reasons for its concern, (b) require the party exercising the challenge to explain its reasons for the challenge, and (c) deny the challenge if the proffered basis is constitutionally impermissible.
RULE 19. OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF THE JURY
After the jury has been selected, but before commencement of the trial, the judge shall administer the following to the jury, including alternate jurors:
“Do each of you swear or affirm that you will well and truly try the matter in issue between the parties, and give a true verdict according to the law and evidence?”
RULE 20. PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS
(a) The court shall instruct the jury before opening statements by reading the appropriate instructions which shall include at least the following:
(1) the issues for trial;
(2) the applicable burdens of proof;
(3) the credibility of witnesses and the manner of weighing the testimony to be received;
(4) that each juror may take notes during the trial and paper shall be provided, but note taking shall not interfere with the attention to the testimony;
(5) the personal knowledge procedure under Rule 24;
(6) the order in which the case will proceed;
(7) that jurors, including alternates, may seek to ask questions of the witnesses by submission of questions in writing.
(8) that jurors, including alternates, are permitted to discuss the evidence among themselves in the jury room during recesses from trial when all are present, as long as they reserve judgment about the outcome of the case until deliberations commence. The court shall admonish jurors not to discuss the case with anyone other than fellow jurors during the trial.
(b) The court shall instruct the jurors before opening statements that until their jury service is complete, they shall not use computers, laptops, cellular telephones, or other electronic communication devices while in attendance at trial, during discussions, or during deliberations, unless specifically authorized by the court. In addition, jurors shall be instructed that when they are not in court they shall not use computers, laptops, cellular telephones, other electronic communication devices, or any other method to:
(1) conduct research on their own or as a group regarding the case;
(2) gather information about the issues in the case;
(3) investigate the case, conduct experiments, or attempt to gain any specialized knowledge about the case;
(4) receive assistance in deciding the case from any outside source;
(5) read, watch, or listen to anything about the case from any source;
(6) listen to discussions among, or received information from, other people about the case; or
(7) talk to any of the parties, their lawyers, any of the witnesses, or members of the media, or anyone else about the case, including posting information, text messaging, email, Internet chat rooms, blogs, or social websites.
(c) It is assumed that the court will cover other matters in the preliminary instructions.
(d) The court shall provide each juror with the written instructions while the court reads them.
(a) In criminal cases, the prosecution shall state briefly the evidence that supports its case. The defense may then state briefly the evidence in support of the defense, but has the right to decline to make an opening statement.
(b) In civil cases, the party with the burden of going forward may briefly state the evidence that supports its case. The adverse party may then briefly state the evidence in support of its case.
RULE 22. PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE
Unless the court otherwise directs, the party with the burden of going forward shall produce evidence first, followed by presentation of evidence by the adverse party.
The parties may then respectively offer rebuttal evidence only, unless the court, for good cause shown, permits them to offer evidence upon their original case.
In both criminal and civil cases, the court may authorize the use of juror trial books to aid jurors in performing their duties.
Juror trial books may contain:
(b) information regarding the anticipated trial schedule;
(c) witness lists; and
(d) copies of exhibits admitted for trial.
RULE 24. PROCEDURE FOR JUROR WITH PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE IN CRIMINAL CASES
If the court receives information that a juror has personal knowledge about the case, the court shall examine the juror under oath in the presence of the parties and outside the presence of the other jurors concerning that knowledge.
If the court finds that the juror has personal knowledge of a material fact, the juror shall be excused, and the court shall replace that juror with an alternate. If there is no alternate juror, then the court shall discharge the jury without prejudice, unless the parties agree to submit the cause to the remaining jurors.
When the court determines it is proper, the court may order the jury to view:
(a) the real or personal property which is the subject of the case; or
(b) the place in which a material fact occurred.
The place shall be shown to the jury by a person appointed by the court for that purpose. While the jury is absent for the view, no person, other than the person appointed to show the place to the jury, shall speak to the jury on any subject connected with the trial. Counsel for the parties shall have the right to accompany the jury but shall not speak to the jury.
(a) The court shall read appropriate final instructions, which shall include at least the following:
(1) the applicable burdens of proof;
(2) the credibility of witnesses; and,
(3) the manner of weighing the testimony received.
The court shall provide each juror with written instructions before the court reads them. Jurors shall retain the written instructions during deliberations. The court may, in its discretion, give some or all final instructions before final arguments, and some or all final instructions after final arguments.
(b) The court shall instruct the bailiff to collect and store all computers, cell phones or other electronic communication devices from jurors upon commencing deliberations. The court may authorize appropriate communications (i.e. arranging for transportation, childcare, etc.) that are not related to the case and may require such communications to be monitored by the bailiff. Such devices shall be returned upon completion of deliberations or when the court permits separation during deliberations. Courts that prohibit such devices in the courthouse are not required to provide this instruction. All courts shall still admonish jurors regarding the limitations associated with the use of such devices if jurors are permitted to separate during deliberations.
When the evidence is concluded, the parties may, by agreement in open court, submit the case without argument to the jury.
If the parties argue the case to the jury, the party with the burden of going forward shall open and close the argument. The party which opens the argument must disclose in the opening all the points relied on in the case. If, in the closing, the party which closes refers to any new point or fact not disclosed in the opening, the adverse party has the right to reply to the new point or fact. The adverse party's reply then closes the argument in the case.
If the party with the burden of going forward declines to open the argument, the adverse party may then argue its case. In criminal cases, if the defense declines to argue its case after the prosecution has made opening argument, then that shall be the only argument allowed in the case.
In criminal cases, the party with the burden of going forward is the prosecution. In civil cases, the party with the burden of going forward is the plaintiff.
RULE 28. ASSISTING JURORS AT AN IMPASSE
If the jury advises the court that it has reached an impasse in its deliberations, the court may, but only in the presence of counsel, and, in a criminal case the parties, inquire of the jurors to determine whether and how the court and counsel can assist them in their deliberative process. After receiving the jurors' response, if any, the court, after consultation with counsel, may direct that further proceedings occur as appropriate.
RULE 29. SEPARATION DURING DELIBERATION
(a) The court, in its discretion may permit the jury in civil cases to separate during deliberations. However, before the jurors are permitted to separate, the court shall instruct them that while they are separated, they shall:
(1) not discuss the case among themselves or with anyone else;
(2) not talk to the attorneys, parties, or witnesses;
(3) not express any opinion about the case; and
(4) not listen to or read any outside or media accounts of the trial.
(b) The court shall not permit the jury to separate during deliberation in criminal cases unless all parties consent to the separation and the instructions found in section “a” of this rule are given.
RULE 30. JUDGE TO READ THE VERDICT
When the jury has agreed upon its verdict, the foreperson shall sign the appropriate verdict form. When returned into court, the judge shall read the verdict. The court or either party may poll the jury. If a juror dissents from the verdict, the jury shall again be sent out to deliberate.