TRIAL BY JURY

(a) Number of Jurors.

(1) The jury must be composed of six persons.

(2) The court may direct that 1 or more jurors be impaneled to sit as alternate jurors in addition to the regular panel. Alternate jurors must replace jurors who have become unable or disqualified to perform their duties, in the order in which they are called before the jury retires to consider its verdict. Alternate jurors must be drawn in the same manner, have the same qualifications, be subject to the same examination, take the same oath, and have the same functions, powers, facilities, and privileges as principal jurors. An alternate juror who does not replace a principal juror must be discharged when the jury retires to consider the verdict.

(3) If alternate jurors are called, each party is entitled to one peremptory challenge in the selection of each alternate juror. Additional peremptory challenges allowed pursuant to this subdivision may be used only against the alternate jurors.

(b) Examination by Parties. The parties have the right to examine jurors orally on their voir dire. The order in which the parties may examine each juror is determined by the court. The court may ask such questions of the jurors as it deems necessary, but the right of the parties to conduct a reasonable examination of each juror orally must be preserved.

(c) Juror List. Upon request, any party must be furnished by the clerk of the court with a list containing names and addresses of prospective jurors summoned to try the case together with copies of any jury questionnaires returned by the prospective jurors.

(d) Challenge to the Panel. Both parties may challenge the panel. A challenge to the panel may be made only on the ground that the prospective jurors were not selected or drawn according to law. Challenges to the panel must be made and decided before any individual juror is examined, unless otherwise ordered by the court. A challenge to the panel must be in writing and must specify the facts constituting the ground of the challenge. Challenges to the panel must be tried by the court. Upon the trial of a challenge to the panel, the witnesses may be examined on oath by the court and may be so examined by either party. If the challenge to the panel is sustained, the court must discharge the panel. If the challenge is not sustained, the individual jurors must be called.

(e) Oath for Voir Dire. The prospective jurors must be sworn collectively or individually, as the court may decide. The form of oath must be as follows: “Do your solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will answer truthfully all questions asked of you as prospective jurors, so help you God?” If any prospective juror affirms, the clause “so help you God” must be omitted.

(f) Examination. The court may then examine each prospective juror individually or may examine the prospective jurors collectively. Counsel for both the state and the respondent have the right to examine jurors orally on their voir dire. The order in which the parties may examine each juror must be determined by the court.

(g) Prospective Jurors Excused. If, after the examination of any prospective juror, the court is of the opinion that the juror is not qualified to serve as a trial juror, the court must excuse the juror from the trial. If, however, the court does not excuse the juror, either party may then challenge the juror, as provided by law or by these rules.

(h) Time for Challenge. Both parties may challenge an individual prospective juror before the juror is sworn to try the cause; except that the court may, for good cause, permit a challenge to be made after the juror is sworn, but before any evidence is presented.

(i) Exercise of Challenge. On the motion of any party, all challenges must be addressed to the court outside the hearing of the jury panel in a manner selected by the court so that the jury panel is not aware of the nature of the challenge, the party making the challenge, or the basis of the court’s ruling on the challenge, if for cause.

(j) Manner of Challenge. A challenge to an individual juror may be oral. When a juror is challenged for cause the ground of the challenge must be stated.

(k) Determination of Challenge for Cause. The court must determine the validity of a challenge of an individual juror for cause. In making such determination, the juror challenged and any other material witnesses, produced by the parties, may be examined on oath by either party. The court may consider any other evidence material to such challenge.

(l) Number of Challenges. Each party must be allowed three peremptory challenges.

(m) Alternate Jurors. If 1 or 2 alternate jurors are called, each party is entitled to 1 peremptory challenge, in addition to those otherwise allowed by law, for each alternate juror so called. The additional peremptory challenge may be used only against the alternate juror and the other peremptory challenges allowed by law must not be used against the alternate juror.

(n) Additional Challenges. The trial judge may exercise discretion to allow additional peremptory challenges when appropriate.

(o) Oath of Trial Jurors. The following oath must be administered to the jurors: “Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will well and truly try the issues between the State of Florida and the respondent and render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence, so help you God?” If any juror affirms, the clause “so help you God” must be omitted.

(p) Interview of a Juror. A party who believes that grounds for legal challenge to a verdict exist may move for an order permitting an interview of a juror or jurors to determine whether the verdict is subject to the challenge. The motion must be served within 10 days after rendition of the verdict unless good cause is shown for the failure to make the motion within that time. The motion must state the name and address of each juror to be interviewed and the grounds for challenge that the party believes may exist. After notice and hearing, the trial judge must enter an order denying the motion or permitting the interview. If the interview is permitted, the court may prescribe the place, manner, conditions, and scope of the interview.