jurors; peremptory challenge; civil action

HB 2228 restores a limited number of peremptory challenges in Arizona civil trials, directly affecting parties (plaintiffs and defendants) in superior court cases. The bill grants each side four peremptory challenges to remove potential jurors without stating a reason, with parties alternating turns starting with the plaintiff. It also allows additional challenges if parties on the same side have conflicting interests, requiring the court to distribute them equally. This change responds to concerns raised after the Arizona Supreme Court eliminated peremptory challenges in civil trials in 2021, aiming to help parties secure impartial juries while maintaining Batson v. Kentucky protections.