I recently was selected to serve as a juror on a DUI case. I was the next to last person selected (the last woman). A man wa...
Full Question:
I recently was selected to serve as a juror on a DUI case. I was the next to last person selected (the last woman). A man was the last selected and was the alternate. While sitting in the jury room waiting for the trial to begin, the bailiff came in and told me that I had been released from serving and that I had to leave. After reading the disposition of the case, I saw that the defense had made a preemptory motion to have me dismissed and it was granted by judge. I am very troubled by this and would like to know why I was let go. Can you give me any insight into this?
08/11/2007 |
Category: Courts |
State: Mississippi |
#7874
Answer:
Voir dire is used to weed out jurors that may be biased in some way. The judge and the attorneys ask questions about a prospective juror=s knowledge of the case, occupation, relationship to the attorneys or parties, and similar questions. Most states have jurors fill out a questionnaire on general topics to save time. Jurors can be challenged for cause. The argument would be that they were incapable of making an impartial decision. For example, they might be friends of one of the parties or one of the attorneys.
Attorneys can also use a limited number of peremptory challenges to remove potential jurors with whom they are uncomfortable. A peremptory challenge is a right to strike a juror with or without cause. However, the challenge cannott be based on race or sex.