Rule 18.5 Oath and preliminary instruction of jurors.

Once the jury is picked, the judge has to make sure they are sworn in. The judge can either remind jurors that an earlier oath still applies to them, or have them take a new oath. That oath is a promise to fairly judge the case between the defendant and the State of Alabama, and to reach a true verdict based on the law and the evidence presented.

After the oath, the judge has the option to give the jury some early instructions. This can include explaining what jurors are supposed to do, how they should behave during the trial, the order in which things will happen in court, and any other information the judge thinks jurors need to know before the trial gets started. This helps jurors understand their role from the very beginning instead of waiting until the end of the trial to learn the rules.