American Jury Selection

Submitted by Thesteven (United States), Mar 12, 2013 at 22:35

In the American system, as distinguished from the British, attorneys for both the Government and the Defendant have peremptory challenges. In the British system there are no peremptory challenges, only challenges for cause. In the United States all prospective jurors may be questioned relating to their fairness and bias. If bias is shown then, individually, there may be a proper challenge for cause. With the exception of black prospective jurors subject to a special protection, if there is no demonstrated cause, a certain number of prospective jurors may then be excluded by either side for no stated reason. That is sufficient to protect the rights of the defendant in this case.

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