(a) Examination of Jurors. The court must conduct the examination of prospective jurors and must permit such supplemental examination by counsel as it deems proper.
Rule 47.Selecting jurors
Group VI: Trials · Last amended March 1, 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 47 puts the court in charge of questioning prospective jurors, points to NRS Chapter 16 for the number of challenges each side gets, and lays out how alternate jurors are selected, used, and, uniquely, allowed to step in even after deliberations have begun.
Full Text of Rule 47
(b) Challenges to Jurors. The court must allow peremptory challenges and challenges for cause as provided in NRS Chapter 16.
(c) Alternate Jurors.
(1) In addition to the regular jury, the court may direct that alternate jurors be called and impaneled to sit. Alternate jurors in the order in which they are called must replace jurors who become or are found to be unable or disqualified to perform their duties. Alternate jurors must be drawn in the same manner; have the same qualifications; be subject to the same examination and challenges; take the same oath; and have the same functions, powers, facilities, and privileges as the regular jurors. An alternate juror may replace a regular juror during trial or after the jury retires to consider its verdict. If an alternate juror replaces a regular juror after the jury has retired to deliberate, the court must recall the jury, seat the alternate, and resubmit the case to the jury. Alternate jurors must be discharged when the regular jury is discharged.
(2) Each side is entitled to one additional peremptory challenge for every two alternate jurors that are to be impaneled. The additional peremptory challenges may be used against an alternate juror only, and the regular peremptory challenges allowed by law must not be used against an alternate juror.
Notes
Drafter’s Note, Amendment Effective January 1, 2005: Subdivision (a) is amended by replacing the word “may” with “shall,” such that the court “shall permit . . . supplemental examination by counsel as it deems proper.” Subdivision (b) retains the provision for alternate jurors, whereas the federal rule was amended in 1991 to abolish the institution of the alternate juror. However, subdivision (b) is revised to eliminate language that limited the trial court to impaneling not more than six alternate jurors and allows each side one peremptory challenge for every two alternates impaneled. The revised Nevada rule does not incorporate subdivision (c) of the federal rule.
Advisory Committee Note — 2019 Amendment: The amendments retain the former Nevada rule, adding a crossreference in Rule 47(b) to NRS Chapter 16, which addresses juror challenges. Rule 47(c) allows alternate jurors to replace regular jurors during jury deliberation, consistent with NRS Chapter 16.
Amendment History
Amended eff. 3-16-64; Amended eff. 9-27-71; Amended eff. 1-1-05; Amended eff. 3-1-19.
Plain-English Summary
Voir dire in Nevada starts with the judge. The court conducts the questioning of prospective jurors itself and decides how much additional, supplemental questioning by the lawyers to allow. The rule does not set the number of peremptory challenges or challenges for cause; it instead points to NRS Chapter 16, which supplies those figures.
Alternate jurors get their own treatment. A court may seat alternates alongside the regular panel, drawn the same way, meeting the same qualifications, sitting through the same examination and challenges, taking the same oath, and carrying the same functions and privileges as regular jurors. Each side gets one added peremptory challenge for every two alternates seated, usable only against an alternate, never against a regular juror. What sets Nevada apart is that an alternate may step in for a regular juror even after the jury has retired to deliberate; when that happens, the court recalls the jury, seats the alternate, and sends the case back for the jury to take up again. Alternates are discharged whenever the regular jury is discharged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who questions prospective jurors during jury selection in Nevada?
The court conducts the examination of prospective jurors itself and decides how much supplemental questioning by the attorneys to allow.
Where do I find the number of peremptory challenges each side gets?
Rule 47(b) does not set that number itself. It points to NRS Chapter 16, which governs peremptory challenges and challenges for cause.
Can an alternate juror replace a regular juror after deliberations have already started?
Yes. If a regular juror becomes unable to continue after the jury has retired to deliberate, the court recalls the jury, seats the alternate in that juror's place, and resubmits the case for deliberation.
How many extra peremptory challenges do I get if alternate jurors are seated?
One additional peremptory challenge for every two alternate jurors to be impaneled, and that extra challenge can only be used against an alternate.
Are alternate jurors treated any differently from regular jurors during the trial itself?
No. Alternates are drawn the same way, hold the same qualifications, go through the same examination and challenges, take the same oath, and carry the same functions and privileges as the regular jurors.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Advisory Committee
Notes, and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Nevada Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Nevada. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: alternate jurors nevada civil casejury voir dire nevadaperemptory challenges nevada civilreplacing a juror during trialjury selection nevada rules