On the day on which jurors have been notified to appear, jurors not excused by the court shall be called in such manner as the judge may direct to be sworn on their voir dire until a panel free from exceptions shall be obtained. The jurors shall be selected randomly. The remaining jurors may be discharged or excused subject to such orders as the court shall make.
§ 8.01-357.Selection of jury panel.
Chapter 11. Juries · Article 4. Jury Service · Last amended 1999 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceDescribes how the trial-day jury panel gets assembled — jurors not already excused are called at random and sworn for voir dire until enough remain who are free from valid objection, after which the court may discharge or excuse whichever jurors were not needed.
Full Text of § 8.01-357
Plain-English Summary
On the day jurors are told to appear, this section describes how the pool in the courtroom becomes the actual trial panel. Jurors who have not already been excused get called, in whatever manner the judge directs, to be sworn on voir dire, and that process continues until the court has assembled a panel free of valid objections.
The calling itself has to happen randomly, which keeps the order in which jurors face questioning from being manipulated by either side. Once the panel is set, the jurors who were not needed can be discharged or excused, subject to whatever the court orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are jurors chosen to be called for voir dire?
Randomly.
When does the court stop calling jurors to build the panel?
Once a panel free from exceptions has been obtained.
What happens to jurors who are not called for the panel?
They may be discharged or excused, subject to such orders as the court makes.
Is voir dire part of this panel-selection process?
Yes. Jurors are called and sworn on their voir dire as part of assembling the panel.
Who directs the manner in which jurors are called?
The judge.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-208.19; 1973, c. 439; 1977, c. 617; 1999, c. 3.
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
Also known as: virginia jury panel selection processrandom jury selection virginia voir dire