Legal Definitions - empanel

Empanel is a verb that describes the formal process by which a court selects and officially seats a group of individuals to serve as a jury for a specific trial or legal proceeding. This process typically involves questioning potential jurors to ensure impartiality, followed by the chosen jurors taking an oath to fairly and impartially hear the evidence and render a verdict.

• Example 1: In a high-profile criminal case involving allegations of corporate fraud, the judge spent several days overseeing the selection of jurors. After extensive questioning of potential candidates by both the prosecution and defense attorneys, the final twelve individuals were chosen and formally sworn in to hear the evidence. At this point, the jury was considered empanelled, ready to begin the trial.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the act of empaneling as the culmination of the jury selection process, where the chosen individuals are officially seated and sworn in, thereby becoming the formal jury for the trial.

• Example 2: A civil lawsuit concerning a significant property dispute between two neighbors was set to go to trial. On the first day, a large pool of prospective jurors gathered. Following a rigorous selection process where attorneys from both sides asked questions to identify any biases, the judge ultimately selected and administered the oath to the final group of jurors who would decide the case. Once these jurors took their oath, the court had successfully empanelled the jury for the property dispute.

  Explanation: Here, the term "empanelled" refers to the moment the selected individuals formally commit to their role as jurors by taking an oath, marking their official appointment to hear and decide the civil case.