How are jurors assigned to trials?
The initial assignment is random. Before a trial begins, jurors may be required to complete questionnaires which provide information relevant to jury service. The parties and attorneys in the case will review this information prior to jury selection. When the jurors arrive in the courtroom, the judge will provide some initial instructions and the parties or the attorneys will ask additional questions of each juror. Each side in the case may ask the court to excuse any juror for a specific cause. Each side is also allotted a certain number of “peremptory” or discretionary challenges for which a cause need not be given. However, the law does not permit these challenges to be made in a discriminatory manner.
