The New Jersey Supreme Court has acted on the recommendations of its special jury selection subcommittee, which has resulted in some favorable changes. With minor hanges, the Court has adopted several significant recommendations of the subcommittee.

Recommendation 1 sets jury selection standards addresses the voir dire process including standard and supplemental questions to jurors and attorney participation in voir dire.

Recommendation 2 established a standing committee to provide continuing oversight for purposes of ensuring uniformity in practice statewide and to address other jury-related areas.

Recommendation 3 authorized the development of a jury selection manual to address the specifics of jury selection, to be issued to judges and attorneys alike.

Recommendations 4, 5 and 6 provided for revisions to the standard juror questions, and instituted jury selection training programs for judges and attorneys.

Recommendation 7 expands the pre-trial voir dire conference to include submission by attorneys of written proposed voir dire questions, and to require
the trial judge to rule on the proposed questions on the record. The Court withheld any action on additional proposals, such as one to reduce the number of peremptory challenges. Instead, there will be a one-year period of evaluating the effects of the adopted recommendations, after which the impact of the new procedures and standards will be evaluated. Overall, these changes are intended to improve the jury-selection process, but only time will tell if they are successful.

Christopher H. Westrick, Esq.