What is the Jury Selection Process?
Jury selection is called “voir dire.” These are the french words for “to see” and “to speak.” It is the opportunity for the judge and attorneys at the beginning of a trial to see and to speak with potential jurors in their case. The exact procedures will vary by jurisdiction and state law. Some jurisdictions allow the attorneys to ask questions, some just the judge. Some will have had the jurors complete a questionnaire prior to voir dire that will answer many of the more mundane questions (name, address, occupation, age, children, etc.) and then the attorneys and/or judge can supplement these questions with their own. The intent of jury selection is to discover if the potential jurors have any biases that could get in the way of their remaining as neutral as possible throughout the trial. It is also used to determine whether or not the potential juror can act in accordance with the law (i.e., presume innocence, not discuss the case prior to deliberations, not seek out information abou
