Rule 3:22A.Examination of Prospective Trial Jurors (Voir Dire).
Part Three: Practice and Procedures in Civil Actions · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRequires the court to question prospective jurors, individually or collectively, on relationship, interest, exposure to outside information, formed opinions, and bias, permits the court and counsel to examine the venire further on qualifications, and allows the court to excuse an unqualified juror for cause.
(a)Examination. — After the prospective jurors are sworn on the voir dire, the court must question them individually or collectively to determine whether anyone:
(1)Is related by blood, adoption, or marriage to the accused or to the Plaintiff or Defendant;
(2)Is an officer, director, agent or employee of the Plaintiff or Defendant;
(3)Has any interest in the trial or the outcome of the case;
(4)Has acquired any information about the case or the parties from the news media or other sources and, if so, whether such information would affect the juror's impartiality in the case;
(5)Has expressed or formed any opinion about the case;
(6)Has a bias or prejudice against the Plaintiff or Defendant; or
(7)Has any reason to believe the juror might not give a fair and impartial trial to the Plaintiff and Defendant based solely on the law and the evidence.
Thereafter, the court, and counsel as of right, may examine on oath the venire, and any prospective juror, and ask questions relevant to the qualifications as an impartial juror. A party objecting to a juror may introduce competent evidence in support of the objection.
(b)Challenge for Cause. — The court, on its own motion or following a challenge for cause, may excuse a prospective juror if it appears the juror is not qualified, and another will be drawn or called and placed in the juror's stead for the trial of that case.
Plain-English Summary
Voir dire in a Virginia civil case starts with a mandatory line of questioning. After prospective jurors are sworn, the court must ask them, individually or as a group, whether any of them is related by blood, adoption, or marriage to the plaintiff or defendant; is an officer, director, agent, or employee of the plaintiff or defendant; has any interest in the trial or its outcome; has picked up information about the case from the news media or elsewhere that could affect their impartiality; has already formed or expressed an opinion about the case; holds a bias or prejudice against the plaintiff or defendant; or has any other reason to doubt they could give both sides a fair and impartial trial based solely on the law and the evidence.
Beyond that required inquiry, the court and counsel — as a matter of right — may examine the venire and any individual prospective juror under oath on their qualifications to serve impartially, and a party objecting to a particular juror may introduce competent evidence to support that objection.
If it turns out a prospective juror isn’t qualified, the court can excuse that juror, either on its own motion or on a challenge for cause, and another juror is drawn or called to take that person’s place for the trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must the court ask prospective jurors before a Virginia civil trial?
Whether they’re related to a party, are an officer or employee of a party, have any interest in the case, have picked up outside information that could affect their impartiality, have already formed an opinion, hold any bias against a party, or have any other reason they couldn’t be fair and impartial.
Can the attorneys question prospective jurors themselves, beyond the court’s questions?
Yes. After the court’s inquiry, the court and counsel, as of right, may examine the venire and individual prospective jurors under oath on their qualifications to serve impartially.
Can a party challenge a juror based on evidence, not just the juror’s own answers?
Yes. A party objecting to a juror may introduce competent evidence in support of that objection.
What happens if a prospective juror turns out not to be qualified?
The court may excuse that juror, either on its own motion or following a challenge for cause, and another prospective juror is drawn or called to take that person’s place.
Is voir dire only conducted juror by juror, or can it be done as a group?
Both are allowed. The court may question prospective jurors individually or collectively on the required topics.
Amendment History
Promulgated by Order dated November 1, 2012; effective January 1, 2013. Last amended by Order dated November 23, 2020; effective March 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia, published by the
Supreme Court of Virginia. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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