Legal Definitions - impaneled jury

An impaneled jury refers to the group of individuals who have been formally selected from a larger pool of potential jurors, undergone the jury selection process (known as voir dire), and have been officially sworn in to serve on a specific legal case. Once impaneled, these individuals are ready to hear evidence, deliberate, and render a verdict or decision.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of an impaneled jury:

• Criminal Trial Scenario: In a high-profile murder trial, after several days of questioning hundreds of potential jurors, the judge and attorneys finally agreed on 12 jurors and 2 alternate jurors. The judge then administered an oath to these selected individuals, formally seating them for the proceedings.

  Explanation: At the moment these 14 individuals took their oath and were officially seated, they became the impaneled jury for that specific murder trial. They were then prepared to hear opening statements and evidence, having been formally constituted as the decision-making body for the case.

• Civil Lawsuit Scenario: A major corporation was being sued for breach of contract by a smaller business. After a full day of jury selection, six individuals were chosen by both legal teams and the judge to hear the evidence. The judge then formally swore them in, instructing them on their duties.

  Explanation: These six individuals, once sworn in and formally seated, became the impaneled jury for the breach of contract lawsuit. Their role as the official fact-finders for that particular civil dispute began at that point, allowing the trial to proceed with the presentation of evidence.