Local Rule LCvR 47: VOIR DIRE OF JURORS
W.D. Pa. — Civil rule
LCvR 47 VOIR DIRE OF JURORS A. Examination of Jurors Before Trial. During the examination of jurors before trial, the Clerk of Court, or the representative of the Clerk of Court conducting such examination, shall state the following to the jurors collectively:
1. the name and county of residence of each of the parties;
2. the nature of the suit; and 3. the caption of the action.
B. Required Questions to Jurors Collectively. The following questions shall be posed to the jurors collectively:
1. Do you know any of the parties?
2. Do you know any of the attorneys in the case? Have they or their firms ever represented you or any members of your immediate family?
3. Do you know anything about this case?
4. Are you, or any member of your immediate family, employees, former employees, or stockholders in any of the corporate parties?
C. Required Questions to Each Juror. The following questions, to the extent the trial judge deems appropriate, shall, inter alia, be put to each juror individually:
1. How old are you?
2. Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
3. What is your educational background?
4. What is your present occupation? (If retired, what was your occupation?)
5. Who is your employer? (If retired, who was your employer?)
6. Are you married? If so, what is your spouse's occupation and who is your spouse's employer? (If your spouse is retired, what was his or her occupation and who was his or her employer?)
7. Do you have any (adult) children? If so, how old are they? For whom do they work, and what do they do?
8. Do you own your own home?
9. Do you drive a car?
10. Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit?
11. Any other question, which in the judgment of the trial Judge or the Judge in charge of miscellaneous matters after application being made, shall be deemed proper.
D. Jury List. Members of the bar of this Court shall be permitted to have a copy of each jury list on condition that a receipt be signed with the Clerk of Court at the date of delivery thereof which shall contain as the substance the following certification:
"I hereby certify that I and/or my firm or associates have litigation pending and in connection therewith, I will require a list of jurors. I further acknowledge to have received a copy of said list of jurors from the Clerk of Court and hereby agree that I will not, nor will I permit any person or agency, to call or contact any juror identified on said list at his or her home or any other place, nor will I call or contact any immediate member of said juror's family, which includes his or her spouse, children, mother, father, brother, or sister, in an effort to determine the background of any member of said jury panel for acceptance or rejection of said juror.
/s/ ________ Date: "