Before being examined, every prospective juror shall be sworn or shall affirm to answer truthfully such questions as may be propounded to him.
Art. 1762.Swearing of Juror Before Examination
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title V. Trial · Chapter 7. Jury Trial · Enacted 1983 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1762 requires every prospective juror to take an oath or affirmation to answer truthfully before voir dire questioning begins.
Full Text of Art. 1762
Amendment History
Acts 1983, No. 534, §5.
Plain-English Summary
Article 1762 is short and does one job: before anyone starts questioning a prospective juror, that person must be sworn or affirm to answer the questions put to them truthfully. The oath comes first, questioning second.
The point of putting the oath at the front of the process is to give the court and the parties a reliable basis for the answers voir dire depends on. Whether a prospective juror is later excused for cause under Article 1765, or accepted onto the panel, the entire examination assumes the answers given were made under oath from the first question onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a prospective juror get sworn in?
Before being examined during voir dire, so that all of the juror's answers to questioning are given under oath or affirmation.
What is the purpose of swearing in prospective jurors before questioning?
It obligates the prospective juror to answer truthfully, giving the court and the parties a reliable basis for assessing qualification and bias.
Does this oath apply to jurors who have already been selected?
No. Article 1762 covers prospective jurors before and during examination; jurors accepted onto the panel take a separate oath under Article 1768.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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