When such list is made out, the commissioners shall cause all the names thereon to be fairly written, each on a separate paper or ballot, and shall so fold or roll up the ballots that they will resemble each other as nearly as may be and the names written thereon will not be visible on the outside, and shall deposit the ballots with the list in a secure box prepared for that purpose. Such box shall be locked and safely kept by the clerk of such court and opened only by the direction of the judge thereof.
§ 8.01-347.How names put in jury box.
Chapter 11. Juries · Article 3. Selection of Jurors · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceDescribes the physical procedure for the jury box: each qualified name from the list is written on a separate folded or rolled ballot indistinguishable from the rest, then deposited with the list in a secure locked box kept by the clerk and opened only on the judge’s direction.
Full Text of § 8.01-347
Plain-English Summary
There is something almost ceremonial about how Virginia law describes putting jury names into the box. Each qualified name from the list gets written on its own separate ballot, then folded or rolled so that every ballot looks and feels like the rest, with no name visible from the outside.
Those ballots go into a secure box along with the list itself, and the box gets locked. From that point on, only the clerk keeps custody of it, and it can be opened only when the judge directs — a physical safeguard against anyone tampering with, or singling out names from, the jury pool before a drawing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are names physically prepared for the jury box?
Each name is written on a separate paper or ballot, folded or rolled so that the ballots resemble each other and the names are not visible on the outside.
Who keeps custody of the locked jury box?
The clerk of the court.
Who can authorize opening the jury box?
Only the judge of the court, by direction.
Why are the ballots folded or rolled so they look alike?
So the names written on them will not be visible on the outside, preventing anyone from identifying a particular name before drawing.
What goes into the jury box along with the ballots?
The list of names is deposited in the box together with the folded or rolled ballots.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-208.12; 1973, c. 439; 1977, c. 617.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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