(a) Examination of Jurors. The court may permit the parties or their attorneys to conduct the examination of prospective jurors or may itself conduct the examination. In the latter event, the court shall permit the parties or their attorneys to supplement the examination by such further inquiry as it deems proper or shall itself submit to the prospective jurors such additional questions of the parties or their attorneys as it deems proper. The examination shall be conducted under oath if requested.
Rule 47.Jurors.
Current through February 2024 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 47 lets the court or the parties question prospective jurors under oath if requested, and allows the court to seat one or two alternate jurors alongside the regular panel as provided by law.
Full Text of Rule 47
(b) Alternate Jurors. The court may direct that one (1) or (2) two jurors in addition to the regular panel be called and impanelled to sit as alternate jurors as provided by law.
Amendment History
Rhode Island does not publish a per-rule amendment history inside the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own February 2024 printing; for the underlying adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Rhode Island Judiciary’s compiled rules page.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 47 governs how prospective jurors get questioned and how a court can add insurance against losing jurors partway through a trial.
On examination, the court decides who asks the questions. It may let the parties or their attorneys question prospective jurors directly, or conduct the examination itself. If the court handles the questioning, it still must let the parties or their attorneys follow up with further questions it considers proper, or ask the prospective jurors additional questions the parties or attorneys submit. Either way, the examination is done under oath if a party requests it.
Rule 47 also lets the court seat one or two alternate jurors alongside the regular panel, as provided by law, so the case isn’t derailed if a juror can’t continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who questions prospective jurors — the judge or the lawyers?
The court decides. It may let the parties or their attorneys conduct the examination directly, or conduct it itself while still allowing the parties or their attorneys to ask further proper questions, or to submit additional questions for the court to ask.
Is jury questioning done under oath?
Yes, if a party requests it. Rule 47 requires the examination of prospective jurors to be conducted under oath upon request.
Can extra jurors be seated in case one drops out during trial?
Yes. The court may direct that one or two alternate jurors be called and impanelled alongside the regular panel, as provided by law.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure (R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 47). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-6-2). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: jury selection rulevoir dire rulequestioning prospective jurorsalternate jurors rulepicking a jury in a civil casejury examination rulebackup jurors rule