In a trial of an indictment, how many peremptory challenges are available to regular jurors for a Class A felony?

• A. 10
• B. 15
• C. 20
• D. 25

Answer: (C)

Peremptory challenges in jury selection are capped by statute and vary with the seriousness of the offense. For a Class A felony in this jurisdiction, the law provides twenty peremptory challenges for regular jurors on each side. That means each side can dismiss up to twenty prospective jurors without giving a reason, to tailor the jury to the case. If both sides exercise their challenges, the total could be up to forty challenges across the two sides, and there may be separate allowances for alternate jurors if the case requires them.

The other options don’t fit because they reflect fewer or more challenges than the statute assigns for regular jurors in a Class A felony. Ten or fifteen would under-allocate the permissible peremptory challenges, while twenty-five would exceed the allowed amount.