Jury Selection Time Estimator
Estimates the total duration of jury selection (voir dire) based on the number of jurors needed, panel size, peremptory and for-cause challenges, and average questioning time per juror.
Fill in the fields above and click Calculate.
Formula
Step 1 — Jurors to Question (Q):
Q = ⌈(Jurors Needed + Total Peremptory Challenges) ÷ (1 − For-Cause Rate)⌉
Step 2 — For-Cause Dismissals:
For-Cause Dismissals = Q × For-Cause Rate
Step 3 — Projected Seated Jurors:
Seated = Q − For-Cause Dismissals − Total Peremptory Challenges
Step 4 — Total Voir Dire Time (minutes):
Total Time = Q × (Questioning Time + Administrative Overhead)
Step 5 — Estimated Court Days:
Days = Total Time ÷ (Court Hours per Day × 60)
Assumptions & References
- The formula assumes jurors are questioned individually or in small groups at a consistent pace throughout voir dire.
- For-cause dismissal rate is applied uniformly across all questioned jurors; actual rates vary by case type and jurisdiction.
- Peremptory challenge counts are set by statute and court rules. Federal criminal cases typically allow 6–20 per side (18 U.S.C. § 3321; Fed. R. Crim. P. 24). Civil federal cases allow 3 per side (28 U.S.C. § 1870).
- State peremptory challenge counts vary significantly; consult your jurisdiction's rules.
- Administrative overhead includes swearing in, hardship inquiries, and juror processing time.
- Court hours per day typically range from 5–7 hours after recesses and lunch breaks.
- This estimator does not account for group voir dire, juror questionnaires submitted in advance, or judge-only questioning, all of which can substantially reduce time.
- Reference: American Bar Association, Principles for Juries and Jury Trials (2005), Principle 11 (recommending efficient voir dire practices).
- This tool provides an estimate only and should not be used as a substitute for case-specific judicial scheduling orders.