Is There a Time Limit to Question a Juror During Jury Selection ?

In Texas, trial courts have broad discretion over the jury selection process. Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 38 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The trial court's right to dispatch its business expeditiously must be justly balanced against society's interest in seating fair juries. See McCarter v. State, 837 S.W.2d 117, 120 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). A trial court may impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of voir dire examination, including reasonable limits on the amount of time each party can question the jury panel. Caldwell v. State, 818 S.W.2d 790, 793 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991), overruled on other grounds by Castillo v. State, 913 S.W.2d 529 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Ratliff v. State, 690 S.W.2d 597, 597 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). There is no bright-line rule identifying what amount of time allowed for voir dire is too short. The amount of time allotted is not, alone, conclusive. S.D.G. v. State, 936 S.W.2d 371, 380 (Tex. App.--Houston 14th Dist. 1996, pet. denied). A reasonable time limitation for one case may not be reasonable for another case; thus, each case must be examined on its own facts. Ratliff v. State, 690 S.W.2d 597, 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985); Ganther, 848 S.W.2d at 882.