(a) Juries in expedited jury trial cases shall be composed of eight jurors, unless the parties have agreed to fewer. No alternates shall be selected.
§ 630.04.Number of Jurors; Peremptory Challenges
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4.5. Voluntary Expedited Jury Trials · Enacted 2010 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 630.04 sets a default panel of eight jurors with no alternates for a voluntary expedited jury trial, gives each side three peremptory challenges, and allows an extra challenge per side when the case has more than two sides under the multi-party rule of § 231.
Full Text of § 630.04
(b) The court shall allow each side three peremptory challenges. If there are more than two parties in a case and more than two sides, as determined by the court under subdivision (c) of Section 231, the parties may request one additional peremptory challenge each, which is to be granted by the court as the interests of justice may require.
Plain-English Summary
Unless the parties have agreed to a smaller panel, an expedited jury trial under this chapter uses eight jurors, and none of them are alternates — a smaller, leaner jury than an ordinary civil trial, matched to the shorter timeline the rest of the chapter builds around.
Each side gets three peremptory challenges as a baseline. When a case has more than two genuine sides — determined the same way § 231 determines that question for ordinary jury trials — each side may ask for one additional challenge, which the court grants as the interests of justice require rather than as a matter of right.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jurors sit on a voluntary expedited jury trial?
Eight, with no alternates, unless the parties have agreed to fewer.
How many peremptory challenges does each side get?
Three, though a side may request one additional challenge if the case has more than two sides.
Who decides whether a case has more than two sides for this purpose?
The court, applying the same standard used under § 231 for determining sides in ordinary jury selection.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2010 ch 674 (AB 2284),s 2, eff. 1/1/2011.
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
Also known as: expedited jury trial jury size californiaperemptory challenges expedited trial