Define: Impanel

Impaneling a jury refers to the process of selecting and seating a group of individuals who will serve as jurors in a trial. It involves choosing potential jurors from a pool, questioning them to determine their suitability, and ultimately selecting the final jurors who will hear the case.

The judge presiding over a trial has the authority to impanel a jury. They are responsible for overseeing the jury selection process and ensuring that it is conducted fairly and impartially.

Jurors are typically chosen randomly from a pool of eligible individuals within the jurisdiction where the trial is taking place. The selection process may involve summoning potential jurors based on voter registration lists, driver’s license records, or other sources.

Yes, a juror can be disqualified during the impaneling process if they have a conflict of interest, bias, or any other reason that may prevent them from being fair and impartial. Both the prosecution and defence have the opportunity to challenge potential jurors for cause.

A peremptory challenge allows the prosecution or defence to dismiss a potential juror without providing a specific reason. Each side typically has a limited number of peremptory challenges, which they can use to exclude jurors they believe may be unfavorable to their case.

In certain circumstances, a juror may be excused from serving after being impaneled. This can occur if they have a valid reason, such as a medical emergency or an unexpected personal conflict. However, such requests are subject to the judge’s discretion.

If a juror is found to be biased or prejudiced during the trial, it can lead to a mistrial or an appeal. The judge may dismiss the biased juror and replace them with an alternate juror, or in extreme cases, declare a mistrial and start the trial over with a new jury.

The duration of the impaneling process can vary depending on the complexity of the case, the number of potential jurors, and other factors. It can range from a few hours to several days or even weeks in some high-profile cases.

Impaneling is primarily associated with jury trials, where a group of jurors is selected to decide the outcome of a case. However, in non-jury trials, such as bench trials where the judge alone decides the verdict, the impaneling process may not be necessary.

The purpose of impaneling a jury is to ensure a fair and impartial trial by providing a diverse group of individuals who can objectively evaluate the evidence and determine the facts of the case. The impaneling process helps to safeguard the defendant’s right to a trial by jury as guaranteed by the Constitution.