§ 226.Challenge to individual juror

Title 3. Persons Specially Invested With Powers of a Judicial Nature · Chapter 1. Trial Jury Selection and Management Act · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 226 lets a challenge to an individual juror be made orally or in writing without a stated reason for a peremptory challenge, requires all for-cause challenges to be exercised before any peremptory challenges, and sets the exercise order as defendants first, then the People or plaintiffs.

Full Text of § 226

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) A challenge to an individual juror may only be made before the jury is sworn.

(b) A challenge to an individual juror may be taken orally or may be made in writing, but no reason need be given for a peremptory challenge, and the court shall exclude any juror challenged peremptorily.

(d) All challenges to an individual juror, except a peremptory challenge, shall be taken, first by the defendants, and then by the people or plaintiffs.

Plain-English Summary

Section 226 handles the mechanics of challenging a single juror. The challenge may be oral or written, and no reason need be given for a peremptory challenge; once a juror is peremptorily challenged, the court excludes that juror.

The section also fixes the sequence: every challenge for cause must be exercised before any peremptory challenge, and, except for peremptory challenges, challenges to an individual juror are taken first by the defendants, then by the People or the plaintiffs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a reason to strike a juror with a peremptory challenge?

No. Section 226 states that no reason need be given for a peremptory challenge, subject to the separate limits in §§ 231.5 and 231.7.

Which side challenges a juror first?

Except for peremptory challenges, § 226 has the defendants challenge an individual juror first, then the People or the plaintiffs.

Can a party use a peremptory challenge before exhausting cause challenges?

No. Section 226(c) requires all challenges for cause to be exercised before any peremptory challenges.

Amendment History

Added Stats 1988 ch 1245 § 2.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

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