A person’s right to a trial by an impartial jury is deeply embedded within the fabric of the American justice system. An impartial jury safeguards Constitutional rights by deciding the fate of the parties in an unbiased manner. A jury trial, whether civil or criminal, begins with jury selection, which serves as the primary method for impaneling an impartial jury. In general, jury selection consists of three elements: voir dire, challenges for cause, and peremptory challenges.
Voir dire is an essential part of jury selection because it enables judges and attorneys to discern prejudice or bias within a potential juror. From general questions directed at the entire jury pool to individual juror examination, voir dire exposes a potential juror’s inability to be impartial towards a particular party or case and assists attorneys in making the best use of challenges for cause and peremptory challenges. Aside from these intended purposes, voir dire also serves many unauthorized purposes of the parties, such as establishing a relationship with the prospective jurors and eliciting early favoritism for one side of the dispute. Ultimately, the success of voir dire depends on a number of factors, including the system used by the jurisdiction, counsels’ ability as advocates, and the extent of questioning directed at prospective jurors. . . .