Jury Selection and Voir Dire

The right to a fair trial by an impartial jury of one's peers is guaranteed under the 6th and 14th Amendments of the United States' Constitution. Jury selection is accomplished through voir dire (“to speak the truth”), a process where potential jurors are questioned by attorneys and/or the judge in order to ascertain their suitability to serve on the jury. The goal of voir dire is to eliminate potential jurors who are ineligible due to statutory regulations, insurmountable biases, or refusal to apply the law as it is written. In the past 30 years, scientific jury selection (SJS), the process of applying scientific research methodology and psychological theory to jury selection, has become increasingly prevalent. Keywords: courtroom; jury; law; United States; voir dire; criminal justice; reasoning