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Rule 16. Trial
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10358
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Originally from:
Handbook On the Rules Of Civil Procedure For West Virginia Magistrate Courts - Hardcover Version
Handbook On The Rules Of Civil Procedure For West Virginia Magistrate Courts - PDF Version
Rule 16. Trial - Preview Page
(a) Conduct of Trial. Trial shall be conducted by the examination and crossexamination of witnesses under oath or affirmation, in an orderly manner, and in accordance with the West Virginia Rules of Evidence.
(b) Trial by Jury. In cases of trial by jury, a sufficient number of persons shall be notified, in accordance with the Administrative Rules for Magistrate Courts, so that, after dismissals for cause, a panel of 10 persons may be assembled who are legally qualified and free from prejudice. The magistrate may conduct the examination of potential members of the panel or may permit all or part of such examination to be conducted by the parties or their attorneys. Upon selection of the panel of 10 persons legally qualified and free from prejudice, each side shall exercise 2 peremptory challenges to reduce the number of jurors to 6. The verdict
shall be unanimous, unless the parties stipulate that a verdict or finding of a stated majority shall be taken as the verdict or finding of the jury.
(c) Record of Jury Trial. Every jury trial shall be recorded electronically by a magistrate. If by reason of unavoidable cause it is impossible to record all or part of a jury trial electronically, a magistrate may proceed with the hearing but shall make a written record of the failure to do so and of the cause thereof.
A magnetic tape or other electronic recording medium on which a jury trial is recorded shall be indexed and securely preserved by the magistrate court clerk or, as assigned by the clerk, by the magistrate assistant.
For evidentiary purposes, a duplicate of such electronic recording prepared by the clerk of the magistrate court shall be a “writing” or “recording” as those terms are defined in Rule 1001 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, and unless the duplicate is shown not to reflect the contents accurately, it shall be treated as an
original in the same manner that data stored in a computer or similar data is regarded as an “original” under such rule.
When requested by either party in a civil action or any interested person, the clerk of the magistrate court shall provide a duplicate copy of the tape or other electronic recording medium of any jury trial held. Unless a defendant requesting the copy has received a waiver of costs and fees the defendant shall pay to the magistrate court an amount equal to the actual cost of the tape or other medium or the sum of five dollars, whichever is greater.
Preparation and costs of a transcript of the record or any designated portions thereof shall be the responsibility of the party desiring such transcript, unless the circuit court orders payment to be made by the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
About the Authors:
Justice Robin Jean Davis was engaged in the private practice of law in the state of West Virginia from 1982 until 1996. In 1996, she was elected as a Justice to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to fill an unexpired term. She was re-elected in November 2000. Justice Davis served as Chief Justice in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, and 2010. Justice Davis is the author of several West Virginia Law Review articles, including: "A Tribute to Franklin D. Cleckley: A Compendium of Essential Legal Principles from His Opinions as a Justice on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals"; "A Tribute to Thomas E. McHugh: An Encyclopedia of Legal Principles from Opinions Written by Justice McHugh"; "An Analysis of the Development of Admitting Expert Testimony in Federal Courts and the Impact of That Development on West Virginia Jurisprudence"; and is the co-author with Louis J. Palmer, Jr. of "Workers' Compensation Litigation in West Virginia: Assessing the Impact of the Rule of Liberality and the Need for Fiscal Reform." In addition, Justice Davis is the co-author with Franklin D. Cleckley and Louis J. Palmer, Jr. of Litigation Handbook on West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure (3d ed. 2008).
Louis J. Palmer, Jr. has been a staff attorney on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals since 1996. He has authored several books that include: Encyclopedia of Abortion in the United States (2d ed. 2008); Encyclopedia of Capital Punishment in the United States (2d ed. 2008); Racism in America: A Guide to Understanding Discrimination (2006); and Encyclopedia of DNA and the United States Criminal Justice System (2004). In addition, Mr. Palmer is the co-author with Franklin D. Cleckley and Robin Jean Davis of Litigation Handbook on West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure (3d ed. 2008).
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