There are a lot of moving parts in your criminal case. And, although it may seem like a lot to tackle, you have to competently address every one of them if you hope to maximize your chances of successfully defending yourself. This means protecting your rights during the investigation phase, engaging in proper jury selection, adequately negotiating with prosecutors, and building strong legal arguments based on the rules of evidence and applicable statutory and case law. This week let’s briefly look at jury selection.
Why jury selection matters
Jury selection is important because the men and women who comprise the jury hold your future in their hands. Although these individuals are supposed to come to court without any preconceived notions, the truth of the matter is that everyone has their own lived experiences, meaning that they have built-in biases that may be unfavorable to you. The jury selection process, then, is a buffer to help ensure that you receive a fair trial.
How does jury selection work?
The jury pool will be called to court where you and the prosecution have the opportunity to ask each potential juror questions. These questions should be geared toward eliciting biases. If after this questioning there is good cause to request removal of a potential juror, then that request can be made by either side and a judge will rule on it.
Each side also has a limited number of peremptory challenges, where you can request removal of a potential juror without giving a reason. Keep in mind, though, that you can’t base these requests on any discriminatory justifications.
Once this process is complete, you should be left with the jury. If not, then you may have to start the whole process over again.
Protect your interests through every step of your case
One misstep in your criminal case can lead to a bad outcome. That’s why it may be best for you to have a strong criminal defense advocate on your side every step of the way. If you agree, then now may be the time to reach out to a strong criminal defense attorney of your choosing.