Section 28 of Chapter 234 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following after the second paragraph:

Notwithstanding the above, in all jury trials, both criminal and civil, the following procedures shall govern.

(l) In addition to whatever jury voir dire of the jury venire is conducted by the court, and subject to the provisions in subparagraph (3) of this act for the Commonwealth in criminal cases involving multiple defendants, the court shall permit, upon the request of any party or any party's attorney, the party or the party's attorney to conduct, under the direction of the court, an oral examination of the jury venire.

(2) The court may impose reasonable limitations upon the questions allowed during such examination. Additional time may be granted in the discretion of the court.

(3) In criminal cases involving multiple defendants, the Commonwealth shall be entitled to the same amount of time as that to which all defendants together are entitled.

(4) This act shall not limit the number of peremptory challenges a party is entitled to by statute or court rule.