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Simple English definitions for legal terms
jury panel
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A quick definition of jury panel:
Jury panel: A group of people who are chosen to decide if someone is guilty or innocent in a court case. Each person in the group is called a prospective juror. The judges and lawyers talk to each person to make sure they can be fair and impartial. Some people may be excused if they can't be fair. Usually, there are eight people in a civil case and twelve people in a criminal case. The group should have people from different races and communities.
A more thorough explanation:
A jury panel is a group of people who are selected to perform jury duty in a judicial proceeding.
In a jury panel, each person is a prospective juror. They are briefed by the judges and challenged by lawyers who are provided with a jury list containing each prospective juror’s name, address, and occupation.
For example, in a criminal case, a jury panel may consist of 50 people. The lawyers will then question each person to determine if they can act impartially.
Generally, eight jurors are seated in a jury panel in civil cases, with six selected to deliberate and two serving as alternates. A greater number of jurors are assigned to a jury panel in criminal cases because a trial jury in criminal cases usually have 12 people.
For instance, in a civil case, a jury panel may consist of 30 people. The lawyers will then select eight jurors to hear the case.
A jury panel is supposed to be racially diverse and representative of different communities.
For example, if a trial is taking place in a diverse city, the jury panel should include people from different races and backgrounds to ensure a fair trial.