Jury selection is the process in which the parties to a lawsuit—usually through their attorneys—ask questions of potential jurors seated in the courtroom (the jury panel or venire panel). Parties to a lawsuit—usually acting through their attorneys—may strike some potential jurors without stating a reason (peremptory strikes), and may ask the court to strike other potential jurors on the grounds the potential juror is biased, cannot be fair, or cannot follow the law—known as a strike for cause, challenge for cause, or removal for cause.

In Nebraska, the jury selection process, also known as voir dire, involves attorneys from both sides questioning potential jurors to determine their suitability for serving on the jury. The goal is to ensure an impartial jury is empaneled to hear the case. Attorneys have the right to use peremptory strikes, which allow them to remove a certain number of potential jurors without providing a reason. However, the use of peremptory strikes is limited and cannot be used to discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or gender. Additionally, attorneys may request that the court remove a potential juror for cause if they believe the juror cannot be fair, impartial, or follow the law. The judge will decide whether to grant the challenge for cause based on the evidence presented. Nebraska state statutes and federal law govern the specifics of the jury selection process, including the number of peremptory strikes allowed and the procedures for challenging a juror for cause.