Rule 6.090 Peremptory Challenges in Civil Cases

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

When lawyers pick a jury in a civil case, each side gets a certain number of "peremptory challenges." These let a lawyer remove a potential juror without giving a reason. This rule spells out how those challenges have to be made.

The normal method is a secret written ballot. Instead of standing up and announcing who they want removed, lawyers write their choices down privately. This keeps the process from turning into an open back and forth in front of the jury pool.

There is an exception. If both sides agree to do it out loud instead, and the judge is okay with that, they can skip the written ballot and make their challenges verbally. But this only happens if everyone agrees to the change. Otherwise, the written, secret ballot method is what applies.