Initial jury selection procedures quickly eliminate persons who would not be fit to sit on the jury of a certain trial. This is necessary because many people will be unable or unwilling to participate. The number of possible jurors is endless and finding the most fair jury would be near impossible if our legal process was not the way it is. Common sense tells us that as the process continues, the questions asked of the jurors become more specific. I found this questionnaire that is used for New Jersey civil courts jury selection.
The first step in this process is taken care during the mailing of jury duty notices. The possible candidate must be a U.S. citizen over the age of 18 who has not been convicted of any indictable offense previously. Upon arriving to the courthouse candidates will be asked if they can read and speak English and whether or not they have any disabilities which would prevent them from properly serving as a juror. In the second part of the questioning the candidates are told how long the trial is estimated to last and asked again if they would have any special needs. During the third and fourth step the candidates are introduced to the names of the lawyers and the parties. In steps five and six candidates are asked if they have heard anything about the case from the outside world. Step seven through nine ask of the candidate if they, or anyone close to them, has been a part of a lawsuit similar to this one. Ten and eleven search as to whether not the candidate has any bias against the plaintiff or the defendant. Questions twelve through fifteen ask the candidate if any personal beliefs or opinions would get in the way of them making an unbiased decision. Sixteen asks if the juror has ever been a juror before. Seventeen and eighteen ask of the candidate if any relationships would skew their decision.
In questions nineteen and twenty the candidate is asked if they have been a part of a trial in ways other than being a juror. Question twenty-one asks if the candidate would have trouble understanding a concept related to the case. If the candidate has made it this far, they are asked to write a brief narrative about themselves- the judge can make inferences here to see if the candidate would be an appropriate option. Lastly, they are asked if there is anything else they would believe would make them not qualified to be a juror. These steps in jury selection allows the judge and attorneys insight to the jurors' minds and psyche. These steps are essential in weeding out those who are not mentally, physically, or psychologically fit to sit as a juror on a specific case.
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