Define: Empanel

Empaneling a jury refers to the process of selecting and seating a group of individuals who will serve as jurors in a trial. The court, along with the attorneys involved in the case, will question potential jurors to determine their suitability and impartiality before selecting the final jury.

Jurors are typically chosen from a pool of eligible individuals within the court’s jurisdiction. This pool can be compiled from various sources, such as voter registration lists or driver’s license records. The court then randomly selects individuals from this pool to be summoned for jury duty.

Yes, individuals can request to be excused from empanelment if they have valid reasons such as personal conflicts, hardships, or other disqualifications. These requests are usually made to the court, and the judge will determine whether to grant the excusal based on the circumstances presented.

If you are selected for empanelment but have legitimate reasons for not being able to serve, such as work or other commitments, you can request to be excused. It is important to communicate your situation to the court as soon as possible, and they will consider your request on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, both the prosecution and defence have the right to challenge the empanelment of a juror. These challenges can be based on various grounds, such as bias, prejudice, or lack of qualifications. The court will then evaluate the challenge and make a decision on whether to remove the juror from the panel.

If a juror becomes unable to continue serving during a trial, the court may need to replace them with an alternate juror. This can happen if the juror becomes ill, has a personal emergency, or is otherwise unable to fulfill their duties. The court will then select an alternate juror to take their place.

Yes, if a juror is found to be biased or prejudiced, they can be removed from empanelment. This can occur if new information comes to light during the trial that suggests the juror may not be impartial. The court will then assess the situation and decide whether to replace the juror with an alternate.

The duration of the empanelment process can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the number of potential jurors involved. It can range from a few hours to several days. The court aims to ensure a fair and impartial jury selection process, which may require additional time.

Refusing to participate in empanelment without a valid reason can result in penalties, such as fines or contempt of court charges. Jury duty is considered a civic duty, and individuals are generally expected to fulfill their obligations unless they have legitimate grounds for exemption.

If you are selected for empanelment but do not understand the language used in the trial, you can request an interpreter. The court will provide an interpreter to ensure that you can fully comprehend the proceedings and actively participate in the jury deliberations.