North Carolina Court of Appeals Defines Limits of Jury Voir Dire in Civil Cases

The recent ruling by the North Carolina Court of Appeals addresses an unprecedented legal issue regarding jury management in civil cases. In a case involving allegations of negligence, nuisance, and trespassing, the court concluded that the trial court lacked the authority to reopen jury voir dire and entertain challenges after the jury was already impaneled. The appellate decision, authored by Judge Allegra Collins, highlights the absence of legal provisions permitting such actions in civil proceedings. This decision, which remands the judgment previously issued against the plaintiffs, underscores the procedural boundaries within the judiciary. For more details on this ruling, see the North Carolina Court of Appeals opinion.