The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes by reinstating the right to four peremptory challenges for each party in civil actions within the superior court. This change would allow parties to alternate in striking jurors, starting with the plaintiff, and would stipulate that if a party does not utilize a peremptory challenge, they waive any remaining challenges. Additionally, the bill allows for the possibility of granting extra peremptory challenges if two or more parties on the same side have conflicting interests, ensuring that any additional challenges are equally distributed among opposing parties.

Furthermore, the bill includes legislative findings that emphasize the importance of peremptory challenges in securing an impartial jury, citing concerns raised by the Arizona Supreme Court's previous elimination of these challenges in civil trials. The findings highlight the potential risks of biased juries and the need for fairness in jury selection, particularly in complex cases. Overall, the bill aims to restore a limited number of peremptory challenges to enhance the fairness and integrity of the jury selection process in civil actions.

Statutes affected:
House Engrossed Version: 21-316