Answer to Question 1
o to prevent specific people from serving on the jury. There are two types of challenges. These are challenges for cause and peremptory challenges.
When an attorney feels that a potential juror is unfit to serve, the attorney can exercise a challenge for cause and request that the person not be included on the jury. The attorney must provide a sound, legally justifiable reason why this
o juror is unfit. Some examples as to why a juror is unfit to serve are mental
incompetency, he or she does not understand English, and he or she is linked to one of the parties in the case. Challenges for cause are unlimited.
Attorneys may also use peremptory challenges. These challenges do not require
any supporting reason or cause. These types of challenges are limited and based
o solely on the attorney's subjective reasoning. Each state sets their own limits as
to the number of peremptory challenges each side may use.
Answer to Question 2
o the population of that jurisdiction.
In general, potential jurors must be citizens of the United States and must be over 18 years of age. They must not have been convicted of a felony. They
o must be healthy enough to function in a jury setting. Other requirements include that they are intelligent enough to understand the issues of a trial and be able to read, write, and comprehend English.
The jury pool is made up of eligible jurors in the community. From the eligible jurors, a venire needs to be established, which is composed of all those notified
that they have been selected for jury duty. They must report to the courthouse.
o Through the process of voir dire, potential jurors are questioned and asked to
provide the court with personal information. Voir dire is the chance for each lawyer to speak with individual jurors.