25-7-223. Challenges to jurors for cause. Challenges for cause may be taken on one or more of the following grounds:

Terms Used In Montana Code 25-7-223

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(1)a want of any of the qualifications prescribed by this code to render a person competent as a juror;

(2)being the spouse of or related to a party by consanguinity or affinity within the sixth degree;

(3)standing in the relation of guardian and ward, debtor and creditor, employer and employee, or principal and agent to either party or being a partner in business with either party or surety on any bond or obligation for either party. However, a challenge for cause may not be taken because of debtor and creditor relation when the same arises solely:

(a)by reason of current bills of gas, water, electricity, or telephone; or

(b)because a prospective juror is a depositor of funds with a bank, savings and loan institution, credit union, or similar financial institution.

(4)having served as a juror or been a witness on a previous trial between the same parties for the same cause of action;

(5)interest on the part of the juror in the event of the action or in the main question involved in the action, except the juror’s interest as a member or citizen of a municipal corporation;

(6)having an unqualified opinion or belief as to the merits of the action;

(7)the existence of a state of mind in the juror evincing enmity against or bias in favor of either party.