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 Ohio, 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, although these strikes cannot be used in a discriminatory manner as per the Batson v. Kentucky decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, attorneys may request that the court remove potential jurors for cause if they believe a juror cannot be impartial, fair, or follow the law. The number of peremptory strikes available and the procedures for challenging jurors for cause are governed by Ohio state statutes and court rules. Challenges for cause must be examined by the court, and the judge will decide whether the potential juror should be excused based on the evidence of bias or inability to serve impartially.