SC H3228

Attorneys may conduct voir dire (jury questioning) through oral and direct questioning of potential jurors, with each party allotted no more than 30 minutes (extendable by the judge)

Proposed voir dire questions must be exchanged in writing at least 7 days before jury selection and approved by the trial judge

Prohibits questions seeking to commit jurors to a result, questions designed only to argue a party's case, and questions about outcomes of previous trials on which the juror served

Questions about political views, voting patterns, religious beliefs, or religious affiliations require showing relevance to the issue or juror impartiality before being permitted

Removes the fixed requirement of 20-juror panels, giving trial judges discretion to determine the number of jurors drawn for selection