Fed. R. Crim. P. 24

(a) Examination.

(1) In General. The court may examine prospective jurors or

may permit the attorneys for the parties to do so.

(2) Court Examination. If the court examines the jurors, it

must permit the attorneys for the parties to:

(A) ask further questions that the court considers proper; or

(B) submit further questions that the court may ask if it

considers them proper.

(b) Peremptory Challenges. Each side is entitled to the number

of peremptory challenges to prospective jurors specified below.

The court may allow additional peremptory challenges to multiple defendants, and may allow the defendants to exercise those

challenges separately or jointly.

(1) Capital Case. Each side has 20 peremptory challenges

when the government seeks the death penalty.

(2) Other Felony Case. The government has 6 peremptory

challenges and the defendant or defendants jointly have 10 peremptory challenges when the defendant is charged with a

crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year.

(3) Misdemeanor Case. Each side has 3 peremptory challenges

when the defendant is charged with a crime punishable by

fine, imprisonment of one year or less, or both.

(c) Alternate Jurors.

(1) In General. The court may impanel up to 6 alternate jurors to replace any jurors who are unable to perform or who

are disqualified from performing their duties.

37 Rule 25 FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

(2) Procedure.

(A) Alternate jurors must have the same qualifications

and be selected and sworn in the same manner as any

other juror.

(B) Alternate jurors replace jurors in the same sequence

in which the alternates were selected. An alternate juror

who replaces a juror has the same authority as the other

jurors.

(3) Retaining Alternate Jurors. The court may retain alternate jurors after the jury retires to deliberate. The court must

ensure that a retained alternate does not discuss the case with

anyone until that alternate replaces a juror or is discharged.

If an alternate replaces a juror after deliberations have begun,

the court must instruct the jury to begin its deliberations

anew.

(4) Peremptory Challenges. Each side is entitled to the number of additional peremptory challenges to prospective alternate jurors specified below. These additional challenges may

be used only to remove alternate jurors.

(A) One or Two Alternates. One additional peremptory

challenge is permitted when one or two alternates are impaneled.

(B) Three or Four Alternates. Two additional peremptory

challenges are permitted when three or four alternates are

impaneled.

(C) Five or Six Alternates. Three additional peremptory

challenges are permitted when five or six alternates are

impaneled.

(As amended Feb. 28, 1966, eff. July 1, 1966; Mar. 9, 1987, eff. Aug.

1, 1987; Apr. 26, 1999, eff. Dec. 1, 1999; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)