How many peremptory challenges does each side generally have?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 3
• D. 5

Answer: (C)

Peremptory challenges let a party strike a juror without giving a reason. In civil jury trials, the standard default is three per side. This provides a modest ability to shape the jury while keeping the pool large enough to preserve representativeness. The limit balances fairness and practicality and reflects federal practice and many states, though some jurisdictions vary. Remember that peremptory challenges may not be used to discriminate on race or gender due to Batson and related rulings, and challenges for cause remain available for verified biases. In a typical civil trial with a 12-person jury, three per side is the common arrangement.