<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351508</law_id><section_number>19.2-262.01</section_number><catch_line>Voir dire examination of persons called as jurors</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="54" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="19" identifier="15">Trial and Its Incidents</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="4" identifier="4">Trial by Jury</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In any criminal case, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> and <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> for either <span class="dictionary">party</span> shall have the right to examine under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> any person who is called as a juror therein and shall have the right to ask such person or juror directly any relevant question to ascertain whether the juror can sit impartially in either the guilt or sentencing phase of the case. Such questions may include whether the person or juror is related to either <span class="dictionary">party</span>, has any interest in the cause, has expressed or formed any <span class="dictionary">opinion</span>, or is sensible of any bias or prejudice therein. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> and <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> for either <span class="dictionary">party</span> may inform any such person or juror as to the potential range of punishment to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the sentencing phase of the case. The <span class="dictionary">party</span> objecting to any juror may introduce competent <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> in support of the objection, and if it appears to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that the juror does not stand indifferent in the cause, another shall be drawn or called and placed in his stead for the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of that case.</p><p>A juror, knowing anything relative to the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> in <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, shall disclose the same in open <span class="dictionary">court</span>.</p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 157, 588.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
