§ 270.15 Trial jury; examination of prospective jurors; challenges\n generally.\n 1. (a) If no challenge to the panel is made as prescribed by section\n270.10 of this article, or if such challenge is made and disallowed, the\ncourt shall direct that the names of not less than twelve members of the\npanel be drawn and called as prescribed by the judiciary law, except as\notherwise required by this section. Such persons shall take their places\nin the jury box and shall be immediately sworn to answer truthfully\nquestions asked them relative to their qualifications to serve as jurors\nin the action. In its discretion, the court may require prospective\njurors to complete a questionnaire concerning their ability to serve as\nfair and impartial jurors, including but not limited to place of birth,\ncurrent address, education, occupation, prior jury service, knowledge\nof, relationship to, or contact with the court, any party, witness or\nattorney in the action and any other fact relevant to his or her service\non the jury. An official form for such questionnaire shall be developed\nby the chief administrator of the courts in consultation with the\nadministrative board of the courts. A copy of questionnaires completed\nby the members of the panel shall be given to the court and each\nattorney prior to examination of prospective jurors.\n (b) The court shall initiate the examination of prospective jurors by\nidentifying the parties and their respective counsel and briefly\noutlining the nature of case to all the prospective jurors. The court\nshall then put to the members of the panel who have been sworn pursuant\nto this subdivision and to any prospective jurors subsequently sworn,\nquestions affecting their qualifications to serve as jurors in the\naction.\n (c) The court shall permit both parties, commencing with the people,\nto examine the prospective jurors, individually or collectively,\nregarding their qualifications to serve as jurors. Each party shall be\nafforded a fair opportunity to question the prospective jurors as to any\nunexplored matter affecting their qualifications, but the court shall\nnot permit questioning that is repetitious or irrelevant, or questions\nas to a juror's knowledge of rules of law. If necessary to prevent\nimproper questioning as to any matter, the court shall personally\nexamine the prospective jurors as to that matter. The scope of such\nexamination shall be within the discretion of the court. After the\nparties have concluded their examinations of the prospective jurors, the\ncourt may ask such further questions as it deems proper regarding the\nqualifications of such prospective jurors.\n 1-a. The court may, upon a finding that there is good cause to believe\nthat a threat to the safety or integrity of the jury exists, upon motion\nof either party or any affected person or upon its own initiative, issue\na protective order for a stated period regulating disclosure of the\nnames and the business or residential address of any prospective or\nsworn juror to any person or persons, other than to counsel for either\nparty. In determining whether good cause exists, the court may consider:\n (a) whether the defendant or persons acting on behalf of the defendant\nhave bribed, tampered with, or caused or attempted to cause physical\ninjury to or harassed a juror or prospective juror in another criminal\naction or proceeding or in the instant criminal action or proceeding;\n (b) the seriousness of the charges against the defendant, including\nwhether the defendant is charged with participating in a large-scale\ncriminal enterprise; and\n (c) the extent of pretrial publicity concerning the criminal action or\nproceeding.\n 1-b. If the court determines that a protective order should be issued\nand that all jurors or prospective jurors shall be identified by some\nmeans other than their names and business or residential addresses, the\ncourt shall instruct the jury that the fact that th
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