Judge Theresa L. Springmann Ross Adair Courthouse 1300 South Harrison Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 423-3050 (260) 423-3055 (fax) Voir Dire and Jury Selection Civil jury trials normally have 12 jurors. Generally, 20 to 22 prospective jurors will be called to the trial. The parties will be given a computer-generated, random list of the prospective jurors' names. The parties will also be given copies of the jury questionnaire completed by each prospective juror. The Courtroom Deputy will collect the questionnaires after the jury is selected. The first 12 prospective jurors on the random list will be seated in the jury box. Judge Springmann will conduct a brief initial voir dire of the jurors. After the Court completes its questioning, parties will be given an opportunity to present a preliminary statement of the case, and a case-specific voir dire. After the preliminary statements and first round of voir dire are completed, parties' counsel will be called to the bench. Challenges may then be presented, one at a time, alternating between the plaintiff and the defendant. Challenges for cause will be taken first. Then the Court will take preemptory challenges. Each side is given three challenges. They are exercised alternating between the plaintiff and defendant, with counsel telling the judge the name and seat number of the juror being challenged. When a prospective juror is excused, he or she is replaced by the next numbered prospective juror from the random list. Ordinarily, 12 people will be selected for the jury and there will be no alternates. The Court does not allow "back-striking." Once counsel has passed on a prospective juror, that juror cannot be struck in a subsequent round of challenges, unless cause develops.

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