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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70670</law_id><section_number>19.2-262</section_number><catch_line>Waiver of jury trial; numbers of jurors in criminal cases; how jurors selected from panel</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-360</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="15">Trial and Its Incidents</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Trial by Jury</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any criminal case in which <span class="dictionary">trial</span> by <span class="dictionary">jury</span> is dispensed with as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the whole matter of <span class="dictionary">law</span> and <span class="dictionary">fact</span> shall be heard and <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> given by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. In <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> from juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">courts</span>, the infant, through his <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> or <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, may <span class="dictionary">waive</span> a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>. <a id="paragraph-254939" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-262/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Twelve persons from a <span class="dictionary">panel</span> of not less than 20 shall constitute a <span class="dictionary">jury</span> in a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> case. Seven persons from a <span class="dictionary">panel</span> of not less than 13 shall constitute a <span class="dictionary">jury</span> in a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> case. <a id="paragraph-254940" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-262/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The parties or their <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, beginning with the attorney for the Commonwealth, shall alternately strike off one name from the <span class="dictionary">panel</span> until the number remaining shall be reduced to the number required for a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>. <a id="paragraph-254941" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-262/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> In any case in which persons indicted for <span class="dictionary">felony</span> are tried jointly, if <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> or the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> are unable to agree on the full number to be stricken, or, if for any other reason <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> or the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> fail or refuse to strike off the full number of jurors allowed such <span class="dictionary">party</span>, the clerk shall place in a box ballots bearing the names of the jurors whose names have not been stricken and shall cause to be drawn from the box such number of ballots as may be necessary to complete the number of strikes allowed the <span class="dictionary">party</span> or parties failing or refusing to strike. Thereafter, if the opposing side is entitled to further strikes, they shall be made in the usual manner. <a id="paragraph-254942" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-262/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-208.21; 1973, c. 439; 1974, c. 611; 1975, cc. 495, 578; 1979, c. 230; 1997, cc. 516, 518; 2005, c. 356.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
