The judge shall initiate the voir dire examination of jurors by identifying the parties and their respective counsel. He may outline the nature of the case, the issues of fact and law to be tried, and may then put to the jurors any questions regarding their qualifications to serve as jurors in the cause on trial. The parties or their attorneys shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to supplement such examination. Counsel shall scrupulously guard against injecting any argument in their voir dire examination and shall refrain from asking a juror how he would decide hypothetical questions involving law or facts. Counsel shall avoid repetition, shall not call jurors by their first names or indulge in other familiarities with individual jurors, and shall be fair to the court and opposing counsel.
Rule 6.Voir Dire Examination
Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceDirects the trial judge to open jury voir dire by identifying the parties and counsel and questioning jurors about their qualifications, then lets attorneys supplement the examination while barring argument, hypothetical legal questions, and undue familiarity with jurors.
Full Text of Rule 6
Plain-English Summary
The judge opens voir dire under Rule 6, identifying the parties and counsel, possibly outlining the case and the factual and legal issues to be tried, and questioning jurors about their fitness to serve. Counsel then get a reasonable chance to add their own questions, but must avoid arguing to the jury, asking a juror how he would decide hypothetical questions of law or fact, repeating themselves, using jurors' first names or other familiarities, and anything unfair to the court or opposing counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who asks the first questions during jury selection in Oklahoma?
The judge does. Rule 6 has the judge open voir dire by identifying the parties and counsel and questioning jurors about their qualifications to serve.
Can my lawyer ask jurors how they'd rule on a hypothetical version of my case?
No. Rule 6 bars counsel from asking a juror how he would decide hypothetical questions involving the law or facts of the case.
Can attorneys argue their case during voir dire?
No. Rule 6 requires counsel to guard against injecting argument into the voir dire examination.
Can my lawyer call jurors by their first names?
No. Rule 6 tells counsel to avoid first names and other familiarities with individual jurors.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma, promulgated by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma
as an appendix to Chapter 2 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: oklahoma voir dire rulejury selection oklahoma district courtrule 6 rules for district courts oklahoma