The plaintiff first, and afterward the defendant, shall complete his challenges for cause. They may then, in turn, in the same order, have the right to challenge one juror each, until each shall have peremptorily challenged three jurors, but no more.
§ 573.Order of Challenges
Chapter 11: Trial · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 573 has the plaintiff complete challenges for cause first, followed by the defendant, then lets each side alternate one peremptory challenge at a time until each has used three, and no more.
Full Text of § 573
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 4998.
Plain-English Summary
Challenges for cause come first, and in order: the plaintiff completes them, then the defendant. Once that's done, the two sides take turns, one peremptory challenge at a time, each striking a juror in the same alternating order until each side has used three peremptory challenges. Neither side gets more than that.
Section 574 requires the resulting vacancy to be filled before either side challenges again, and Section 575.1 lets a trial judge adopt a specific voir dire method built around this same three-strike cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who exercises challenges for cause first, the plaintiff or the defendant?
The plaintiff completes challenges for cause first, and the defendant follows.
How many peremptory challenges does each side get in an Oklahoma civil trial?
Three each, under Section 573.
Are peremptory challenges exercised all at once or one at a time?
One at a time, in turn, alternating between the sides, until each has used its three.
What happens after a party uses up its three peremptory challenges?
That party can't peremptorily challenge any more jurors; the statute caps it at three, but no more.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: number of peremptory challenges oklahoma civil caseorder of jury challenges oklahomathree peremptory challenges oklahoma12 O.S. § 573