(a) Prior to the examination of prospective trial jurors in the panel assigned for voir dire, the following perjury acknowledgment and agreement shall be obtained from the panel, which shall be acknowledged by the prospective jurors with the statement “I do”: Do you understand and agree, under penalty of perjury, that you will accurately and truthfully answer all questions about your qualifications and ability to serve as a juror in this case, and that failure to do so may result in criminal prosecution?
§ 232.Perjury admonishment; Acknowledgment and agreement
Title 3. Persons Specially Invested With Powers of a Judicial Nature · Chapter 1. Trial Jury Selection and Management Act · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 232 requires prospective jurors to be asked, under penalty of perjury, whether they will truthfully answer questions about their qualifications, and requires selected trial jurors to acknowledge they will decide the case only on the evidence and the court’s instructions.
Full Text of § 232
(b) As soon as the selection of the trial jury is completed, the following acknowledgment and agreement shall be obtained from the trial jurors, which shall be acknowledged by the statement “I do”: Do you understand and agree that you will carefully consider the case being heard in this court, and that you will reach a verdict based only on the evidence presented to you and the instructions on the law given by the court?
Plain-English Summary
Section 232 builds two formal acknowledgments into jury selection. Before questioning begins, prospective jurors are asked to confirm they understand and agree to truthfully answer questions about their qualifications and ability to serve, and that failing to do so may lead to criminal prosecution.
Once the trial jury is finally selected, the jurors are asked a second acknowledgment, confirmed with the answer “I do”: that they will carefully consider the case and reach a verdict based only on the evidence presented and the instructions on the law the court gives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do prospective jurors have to swear to before voir dire questioning?
Section 232 has them acknowledge they will truthfully answer questions about their qualifications and ability to serve, under penalty of criminal prosecution for failing to do so.
What do selected jurors acknowledge once the jury is picked?
That they will carefully consider the case and reach a verdict based only on the evidence presented and the court’s instructions on the law, confirmed with the answer “I do.”
What happens if a juror lies during the Section 232 acknowledgment?
Section 232 warns that failing to truthfully answer qualification questions may result in criminal prosecution.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1988 ch 1245 § 2. Amended Stats 1989 ch 1416 § 10; Stats 2025 ch 29 § 1 (AB 223), effective January 1, 2026.
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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