empaneling

Empaneling is a legal process that refers to the selection of individuals to serve on a jury. This process is fundamental to the jury system in many jurisdictions, ensuring that a group of impartial citizens will hear evidence and decide the facts of a case. The selection typically begins with a larger group of potential jurors, often referred to as a jury pool or venire. From this pool, a smaller group is chosen to appear in court.

During the empaneling process, attorneys for both sides, and sometimes the judge, have the opportunity to question the potential jurors. This questioning, known as voir dire, aims to uncover any biases or conflicts of interest that might prevent a juror from being fair and impartial. Jurors may be excused for cause if they demonstrate a clear inability to serve impartially. Additionally, attorneys are usually given a limited number of peremptory challenges, which allow them to excuse a juror without stating a specific reason.

Once the desired number of jurors is selected and seated, they are officially sworn in. This marks the completion of the empaneling process and the commencement of the trial. The specific rules and procedures for empaneling can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction and the type of court. The ultimate goal is to assemble a jury that is representative of the community and capable of rendering a just verdict.