(a) Number of Jurors
In all civil jury cases, the jury must consist of at least 6 members unless the
parties otherwise consent.
(b) Examination of Jurors
The Court will conduct the examination of prospective jurors. At the close of
such examination, the Court will afford the parties an opportunity, at the
bench, to request that the Court ask additional questions.
(c) Challenges for Cause
Challenges for cause of individual prospective jurors must be made at the
bench, at the conclusion of the Court’s examination.
(d) Peremptory Challenges
(1) Number. Consistent with 28 U.S.C. § 1870, in civil cases, each party is
entitled to 3 peremptory challenges. Several defendants or several
plaintiffs may be considered a single party for the purposes of making
challenges, or the Court may allow additional peremptory challenges
and permit them to be exercised separately or jointly.
(2) Manner of Exercise. Peremptory challenges must be exercised by
striking out the name of the prospective juror challenged on the list of
the drawn venire prepared by the Clerk. A party may waive the exercise
of any peremptory challenge without thereby relinquishing the right to
exercise any remaining peremptory challenge or challenges to which the
party is entitled. If all peremptory challenges are not exercised, the
Court will strike from the bottom of the list sufficient names to reduce
the number of prospective jurors remaining to the number of jurors
decided by the Court to sit on the case.
(3) Order of Exercise. In any action in which both sides are entitled to an
equal number of peremptory challenges, they must be exercised one by
one, alternately, with the plaintiff exercising the first challenge. In a
condemnation action, the claimant will exercise the first challenge. In
any action in which the Court allows several plaintiffs or several
District of Maine Local Rules
defendants additional peremptory challenges, the Court will determine
the order in which challenges are to be exercised.
District of Maine Local Rules
