Rule 48.Number of jurors; verdict; polling

Group VI: Trials · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 48 sets a civil jury at six to twelve members who must all participate in the verdict absent an excuse, requires a unanimous verdict from at least six jurors unless the parties agree otherwise, and lets a party ask that jurors be polled before discharge.

Full Text of Rule 48

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Number of Jurors. — A jury must begin with at least 6 and no more than 12 members, and each juror must participate in the verdict unless excused under Rule 47(f).

(b) Verdict. — Unless the parties stipulate otherwise, the verdict must be unanimous and must be returned by a jury of at least 6 members.

(c) Polling. — After a verdict is returned but before the jury is discharged, the court must on a party’s request, or may on its own, poll the jurors individually. If the poll reveals a lack of unanimity or lack of assent by the number of jurors that the parties stipulated to, the court may direct the jury to deliberate further or may order a new trial.

Amendment History

Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.

Plain-English Summary

A civil jury has to start with at least six members and no more than twelve, and every one of them takes part in the verdict unless excused for good cause under Rule 47(f). Unless the parties agree to something different, the verdict has to be unanimous and has to come from a jury of at least six members.

After the jury returns a verdict but before it is discharged, a party can ask the court to poll the jurors one by one, and the court can order a poll on its own even without a request. If polling shows the jurors are not unanimous, or do not agree in the numbers the parties stipulated to, the court can send the jury back to deliberate further or order a new trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jurors sit on a civil case?

Between six and twelve, and each one participates in the verdict unless excused for good cause.

Does a civil verdict have to be unanimous?

Yes, unless the parties stipulate to something less, such as accepting a verdict reached by fewer than all the jurors.

What does it mean to poll the jury?

The court asks each juror individually, after the verdict is returned but before the jury is discharged, whether the verdict is their own.

Who can ask for the jury to be polled?

Any party can request it as a matter of right, and the court can order a poll on its own even without a request.

What happens if polling shows the jurors do not agree?

The court can send the jury back for further deliberation, or order a new trial.

Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: jury polling rule wyomingunanimous verdict requirementminimum number of jurors civil trialhow many jurors civil case