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Civil procedure

jury selection

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 Pennsylvania, 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 for a fair trial. Attorneys are allowed to use peremptory strikes, which let them remove a certain number of potential jurors without providing a reason, although these strikes cannot be used in a discriminatory manner as per the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Batson v. Kentucky. Additionally, attorneys may request that the court remove potential jurors for cause if they believe a juror cannot be impartial, has a bias, or is unable to follow the law. The number of peremptory strikes available and the procedures for challenging jurors for cause are governed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, depending on whether the case is criminal or civil.

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Civil procedure

jury selection

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Pennsylvania State Code

Civil procedure

jury selection

Articles