Rule 18.2 Additional Jurors

A judge can choose to seat extra jurors beyond the number needed to decide a case. These extra jurors are sometimes called "alternates," but they are treated just like regular jurors until the end of the trial.

The reason courts do this is practical. Trials can last a long time, and if a juror gets sick or has to leave for another reason, an alternate can step in. This way, the trial does not have to stop or start over.

Until the judge officially names which jurors are the alternates, every juror in the box is considered a full juror with the same duties and responsibilities.