N.J. Stat. tit. 2B, ch. 23

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-1 Number of jurors

a. Juries in criminal cases shall consist of 12 persons. Except in trials of crimes punishable by death, the parties in criminal cases may stipulate in writing, before the verdict and with court approval, that the jury shall consist of fewer than 12 persons. b. Juries in civil cases shall consist of 6 persons unless the court shall order a jury of 12 persons for good cause shown. Source: New L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-2 Selection of trial jury from panel

a. When a jury is required for trial, the names or identifying numbers of the jurors who constitute the panel or panels from which the jury is to be selected shall be placed on uniform pieces of paper or other uniform markers. The markers shall be deposited in a box. b. The box containing the markers shall be shaken so as to mix the markers thoroughly and the officer designated by the court shall, at the direction of the court, publicly in open court, draw the markers from the box, one at a time, until the necessary number of persons is randomly selected. If any of the persons so selected is successfully challenged or excused from serving on that jury, the drawing shall be continued until the necessary number of persons is selected. c. The Assignment Judge of the county may provide for the random selection of jurors for impaneling by the use of electronic or electro-mechanical devices, if: (1) the method of random selection is specified with particularity in an order of the Assignment Judge; and (2) the specification of the method and any programs and procedures used to implement the method, including the relevant computer programs or portions of computer programs which are utilized, are available for public inspection upon request. Source: 2A:74-1; 2A:74-8 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-3 Impaneling of additional jurors

The court may direct the impaneling of a jury with additional members having the same qualifications and impaneled and sworn in the same manner as a jury of 12 or 6. All the jurors shall hear the case, but the court for good cause may excuse any of them from service provided the number of jurors is not reduced to less than 12 or 6 in an appropriate civil case. If more than the prescribed number are left on the jury at the conclusion of the court's charge, the clerk of the court in its presence shall, by drawing names, randomly select that number of jurors' names as will reduce the jury to the required number. Source: 2A:74-2 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-4 Names of selected trial jurors

The names of the jurors selected and sworn to try a case shall be made a part of the record of the case. Source: 2A:74-4 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-5 Names of jurors drawn for trial jury replace in pool

After a jury has been selected and sworn, the names or identifying numbers of jurors not sworn to try the case shall be returned to the general pool of eligible jurors before the drawing of another jury. The names or identifying numbers of those jurors shall be returned to the general pool of eligible jurors unless the Assignment Judge directs otherwise. Source: 2A:74-5 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-6 Oath of jurors

The following oath shall be administered to each juror: "Do you swear or affirm that you will try the matter in dispute and give a true verdict according to the evidence?" Source: 2A:74-6 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-7 Oath of officer attending jury

The following oath shall be administered to the officer appointed to attend the jury: "Do you swear or affirm that you will do your best to keep every person sworn on this jury together in a private place, and that you will not allow any person to speak to them, nor speak to them yourself, except by order of the court, and except to ask them if they have agreed on a verdict, until they have so agreed?" Source: 2A:74-7 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-8 Jurors to serve beyond period for which drawn until completion of trial

When a jury does not complete its trial service during the session for which its members are to serve as jurors, the court may order that the jury shall serve until the completion of the trial even though such trial may extend into the next session or sessions. Source: 2A:74-11 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-9 Juries drawn from other counties

a. When a court orders a trial by a jury drawn from outside the county in which the court is sitting, the order shall specify the number of jurors to be returned and shall be directed, and made returnable, to the sheriff of the county from which the jury is to be taken. The jurors shall be competent jurors in the county from which they are to be taken and shall be selected in the same manner as the general panel of jurors is selected. b. The county in which the trial will be held shall pay the expense of summoning and returning the jurors and of their attendance at the court. Source: 2A:76-1; 2A:76-2 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-10 Examination of jurors.

2B:23-10. Examination of jurors. a. In the discretion of the court, parties to any trial may question any person summoned as a juror after the name is drawn and before the swearing, and without the interposition of any challenge, to determine whether or not to interpose a peremptory challenge or a challenge for cause. Such examination shall be permitted in order to disclose whether or not the juror is qualified, impartial and without interest in the result of the action. The questioning shall be conducted in open court under the trial judge's supervision. b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.204). Amended 2007, c.204, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-11 Challenge to qualifications of jurors

It shall be good cause for challenge to any person summoned as a juror that the person does not possess the qualifications required by N.J.S. 2B:20-1 or that the person's name does not appear on the jury lists prepared pursuant to N.J.S. 2B:20-4. If the challenge is verified according to law or on the person's oath the person shall be discharged. Source: 2A:69-3; 2A:78-6 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-12 Interest in action by or against county or municipality

In an action in which a county or municipality is or may be a party or otherwise has an interest in the action, it shall not be a ground for challenge to the jury panel that the court officers, court employees or jurors, solely because they are inhabitants of the county or municipality, are interested in the action or are taxed in the county. Source: 2A:78-5 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-13 Peremptory challenges.

2B:23-13. Peremptory challenges. Upon the trial of any action in any court of this State, the parties shall be entitled to peremptory challenges as follows: a. In any civil action, each party, 6. b. Upon an indictment for kidnapping, murder, aggravated manslaughter, manslaughter, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, aggravated arson, arson, burglary, robbery, forgery if it constitutes a crime of the third degree as defined by subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:21-1, or perjury, the defendant, 20 peremptory challenges if tried alone and 10 challenges if tried jointly and the State, 12 peremptory challenges if the defendant is tried alone and 6 peremptory challenges for each 10 afforded the defendants if tried jointly. c. Upon any other indictment, defendants, 10 each; the State, 10 peremptory challenges for each 10 challenges allowed to the defendants. When the case is to be tried by a jury from another county, each defendant, 5 peremptory challenges, and the State, 5 peremptory challenges for each 5 peremptory challenges afforded the defendants. Amended 2007, c.204, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-14 Trial of challenges to jurors

All challenges to panels of jurors or to individual jurors shall be decided by the court. Source: 2A:78-8 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-15 Time for making challenges

a. Challenges to jurors may be made at any time before the juror is sworn to try the case. b. No challenge to a juror may be made after the juror is sworn to try the case unless: (1) the basis for the challenge could not reasonably have been known earlier to the person making the challenge; and (2) the challenge is based upon the juror's inability to render a fair and impartial verdict. Source: 2A:78-9 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-16 Jury of view

a. At any time during trial the court may order that the jury view the lands, places or personal property in question to understand the evidence better. The court shall direct the viewing procedure. The order shall be directed to the proper officer, specifying the day and place in question. Neither side shall give evidence when the jury is viewing. The officer who executes the order shall, by a special return, certify that the view has occurred according to the order. b. In a civil case, the court shall determine which party shall bear the expense of a view. c. The trial shall proceed even though a view which was ordered has not taken place. Source: 2A:77-1; 2A:77-3; 2A:77-2 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-17 Verdict by five-sixths of the jury

In any civil trial by jury, at least five-sixths of the jurors shall render the verdict unless the parties stipulate that a smaller majority of jurors may render the verdict. Source: 2A:80-2 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:23-18 Disagreement of jurors

If the jury does not agree on a verdict, the court may order a new trial. Source: 2A:80-3 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026