(a) Conduct of jury selection. At the discretion of the court, each party may present a "mini-opening statement" to the jury panel. The mini-opening statement shall be limited to a brief statement of the facts expected to be proven prior to the commencement of jury selection. The court shall permit the parties or their attorneys to conduct the examination of each prospective juror. The court may conduct such examination, but in such instance, the court shall permit the parties or their attorneys to supplement the examination by further inquiry.
Rule 47.Jurors.
Last amended July 1, 2000 · Last verified July 3, 2026
In one sentenceRule 47 governs how jurors are selected and managed during trial, including mini-opening statements, alternate jurors, juror questions, and note-taking.
Full Text of Rule 47
(b) Alternate jurors. The court may direct that not more than six jurors in addition to the regular jury be called and impanelled to sit as alternate jurors. Alternate jurors in the order in which they are called shall replace jurors who, prior to the time the jury retires to consider its verdict, become or are found to be unable or disqualified to perform their duties. Alternate jurors shall be drawn in the same manner, shall have the same qualifications, shall be subject to the same examination and challenges, shall take the same oath, and shall have the same functions, powers, facilities, and privileges as the regular jurors. An alternate juror who does not replace a regular juror shall be discharged after the jury retires to consider its verdict. Each side is entitled to 1 peremptory challenge in addition to those otherwise allowed by law if 1 or 2 alternate jurors are to be impanelled, 2 peremptory challenges if 3 or 4 alternate jurors are to be impanelled, and 3 peremptory challenges if 5 or 6 alternate jurors are to be impanelled. The additional peremptory challenges may be used against an alternate juror only, and the other peremptory challenges allowed by law shall not be used against an alternate juror.
(c) Questioning by jury. At the discretion of the court, jurors may be allowed to suggest questions to be asked of witnesses. Each juror question must be in writing and delivered to the court through appropriate court personnel. Upon receipt of a question, the court shall review the propriety of submitting the question to the witness with the parties or their attorneys on the record, but outside the hearing of the jury. If the court deems the question appropriate and subject to the Hawai‘i Rules of Evidence (HRE), the court may ask the question. The parties shall have an opportunity to examine matters touched upon by any juror question submitted to a witness, subject to the HRE. Any party may object to the asking of a question, but the court may ask the question over any objection after the objection has been placed on the record. The jury shall be pre-instructed about the procedure for asking questions.
(d) Note taking by jurors. Except upon good cause articulated by the court, jurors shall be allowed to take notes during trial. The court's good cause findings need not be written, but must be articulated clearly in a reported proceeding.
(e) Excuse. The court may for good cause excuse a juror from service during trial or deliberation.
Amendment History
Amended May 15, 1972, effective July 1, 1972
further amended December 7, 1999, effective January 1, 2000
further amended March 24, 2000, effective July 1, 2000
Plain-English Summary
At the court's discretion, each party may give the jury panel a brief mini-opening statement before jury selection begins, limited to the facts each side expects to prove. The court decides who conducts voir dire, whether the parties or their attorneys examine prospective jurors directly, or the court does the questioning itself while still letting the parties supplement it. The court may also empanel up to six alternate jurors, who serve under the same qualifications, oath, and duties as regular jurors and step in, in the order called, when a regular juror can't continue before deliberations begin; each side gets extra peremptory challenges, usable only against alternates, scaled to how many alternates are seated.
Jurors may suggest written questions for witnesses, which the court reviews with counsel on the record but outside the jury's hearing before deciding whether to ask them, and which either side may object to on the record. Jurors are pre-instructed on this question procedure and, absent good cause the court articulates on the record, are allowed to take notes during trial. The court may also excuse a juror from service during trial or deliberations for good cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can jurors ask questions of witnesses?
Yes, indirectly. Rule 47(c) lets jurors submit written questions, which the court reviews with the parties on the record, outside the jury's hearing, before deciding whether to ask them.
How many alternate jurors can be seated?
Up to six, under Rule 47(b), with each side receiving additional peremptory challenges, usable only against alternates, scaled to the number of alternates seated.
Are jurors allowed to take notes during trial?
Yes, unless the court finds good cause to disallow it and articulates that finding clearly on the record.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (Haw. R. Civ. P. 47). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 602-11; Haw. Const. art. VI, § 7). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 3, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: jury selectionvoir direalternate jurorsjuror questionsjuror note-taking