for what reasons can an attorney dismiss a juror

by Prof. Makayla Mitchell DDS 6 min read

Lawyers are given the chance to further question jurors during in-person selection. Either side can ask a judge to dismiss a juror for cause, meaning they believe a juror is biased or lacks the ability to serve. The attorney raising the issue has to explain the potential bias when they ask for dismissal for cause.Mar 10, 2021

What might be some reasons a prosecuting and defending attorney might dismiss a juror from a case?

For example, a juror can be dismissed for cause if he or she is a close relative of one of the parties or one of the lawyers, or if he or she works for a company that is part of the lawsuit. Each lawyer may request the dismissal of an unlimited number of jurors for cause.Sep 9, 2019

Which of the following is an unacceptable reason to exclude a potential juror?

two types of challenges (juror should be excluded because inflexibly biased or prejudiced ex. victim of same crime defendant committed) relative, dating, or business associate of defendant, judge can challenge for cause as well, and unlimited.

Which of the following is an illegal reason to remove a juror?

Existing law prohibits a party from using a peremptory challenge to remove a prospective juror on the basis of an assumption that the prospective juror is biased merely because of the sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical ...

When using a challenge for cause either the defense or prosecution can excuse a juror and no reason for doing so needs to be stated?

When using a challenge for a cause, a juror can be excused by either the defense or prosecution, and no reason for doing so needs to be stated. Grand juries meet in secret, and a person under investigation has no legal right to be present or even to be notified of a grand jury investigation.

What is it called if someone is challenged with no cause or reason?

A peremptory challenge results in the exclusion of a potential juror without the need for any reason or explanation - unless the opposing party presents a prima facie argument that this challenge was used to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.

When a party wishes to excuse a potential juror without giving a reason the party may exercise?

Choose 3 answers. What is the process of interviewing prospective jurors and either approving of or challenging a person's impartiality toward service on a particular jury? When a party wishes to excuse a potential juror without giving a reason, the party may exercise a: peremptory challenge.

What type of challenge is appropriate for a biased juror?

A challenge for cause requires convincing a judge that a prospective juror has a bias that precludes impartiality; a peremptory challenge, on the other hand, affords attorneys tremendous leeway by allowing for the exclusion of jurors without explanation or evidence of potential impartiality.

What does it mean to challenge a juror?

Challenges: The law authorizes the judge and the lawyers to excuse individual jurors from service in a particular case for various reasons. If a lawyer wishes to have a juror excused, he or she must use a "challenge" for that juror.

What is rejecting for cause?

Rejection for Cause means a rejection of a Proposed Subscription for any of the following reasons: (i) the Offering fails and no closing is held, (ii) the Subscribing Investor withdraws such Proposed Subscription before it is accepted, (iii) the Company receives written consent from SI Securities and SeedInvest to ...

Which of the following groups Cannot be granted automatic exemption from jury duty?

There are three groups that are exempt from federal jury service: members of the armed forces on active duty; members of professional fire and police departments; and. "public officers" of federal, state or local governments, who are actively engaged full-time in the performance of public duties.

Who decides if note taking is allowed by the jurors?

Although only one state expressly prohibits this practice, in most jurisdictions whether members of a jury are allowed to take notes will depend upon the discretion of the judge.

Can a jury be challenged by a judge?

Challenge to a juror They must give a good reason. If the judge accepts their reason, you won't be allowed to serve as a juror on that particular trial. But you could be called to serve on the jury in another case.

Why do judges remove jurors?

But even after members of the jury are selected and the trial has started, the judges may decide that it’s necessary to remove a juror because that person is not qualified or able to continue serving.

Why are jury members removed from the jury?

Jurors may be removed if they’ve obviously made up their minds ahead of time and simply refuse to engage in jury deliberations—but not because they seem to be relying on faulty logic during deliberations, or they disagree with the rest of the jury about what the evidence shows or how the law should be applied.

How many people can be on a jury?

And although 12-member juries are required for federal crimes, judges in district courts may allow a jury of 11 people to return a verdict if it has found it necessary to excuse a juror after the start of deliberations (Fed. Rules Crim. Proc., rule 23 (b) (2019)).

What happens if there are no alternate jurors?

If no alternate jurors are available, the defendant and the prosecutor may agree to continue the trial with a smaller jury. Even without the defendant’s agreement, the judge may proceed with a reduced jury if it’s allowed in that jurisdiction. Not all states require a jury of 12 for all crimes.

What factors are considered when making a decision?

When making that decision, courts will consider several factors, including: whether the judge had instructed the alternate jurors to avoid news and other outside information about the trial, and. after the alternate is appointed, whether the judge told the jury to start anew with its deliberations.

What happens after a jury is removed from a trial?

After removing a juror, a judge will move ahead in one of three ways: by replacing the juror, continuing the trial with a smaller jury, or declaring a mistrial.

What happens after a trial?

After a trial has started, a judge may dismiss a juror who’s disqualified or unable to continue serving on the jury. Learn about the valid reasons and procedure for removing and replacing jurors, and what happens when no alternates are available. One of the cornerstones of the U.S. criminal justice system is the constitutional right ...

Why are some jurors dismissed?

The defense and prosecution will often dismiss prospective jurors because of family issues. They know that a juror concerned about his or her kids at home will have a harder time focusing on the details of the case. If you are a stay at home parent, you can show proof that you must be home with your children. This can include showing proof that you cannot afford a babysitter or that you have a child still nursing at home. Family issues that preclude you from serving on a jury can also include having a loved one currently in the hospital or the recent loss of a spouse or parent.

What do jurors ask about their opinions?

During the jury selection process, both sides will ask prospective jurors about their personal thoughts and opinions. Anyone who has a strong opinion that relates to the case will generally receive a dismissal. For example, a potential juror might believe that women are bad drivers. In a case involving a female driver, the defense attorney will request that individual’s dismissal from the case. Most people excused from jury duty because of this reason have strong opinions that one or both sides think will not change over the course of the trial.

Why do people get excused from jury duty?

Economic Hardship. One of the more common reasons people are excused from jury duty is because serving on the jury presents that person with an economic hardship. If you are the sole person working in your family, you usually cannot take time off work to serve on a jury.

What happens if you get a felony?

When you receive a felony conviction, you will typically lose some of your civil rights, including your right to vote and your right to sit on a jury. When the jury selection process first begins, make sure that you inform both sides of your criminal record.

Who is exempt from jury duty?

United States Court points out that government workers, active duty military personnel, firefighters and police officers are exempt from jury duty too. The government sends out jury duty notices to American citizens every day to keep the criminal justice system moving smoothly. Though you may worry about taking time away from work ...

Is jury duty a privilege?

Jury duty is a right and a privilege, but there are some reasons people are excused from jury duty. Juries are an important part of the criminal justice system in America.

How many jurors are there in a misdemeanor case?

In misdemeanor cases there are sometimes fewer than twelve jurors, though in serious criminal cases twelve jurors are generally required. The old requirement that juries be unanimous is also changing. In misdemeanor and civil cases particularly, states often provide for verdicts based on the agreement of three-fourths or five-sixths of the jurors. ...

Why are alternate jurors selected?

Alternate jurors are selected in some cases to take the place of jurors who may become ill during the trial. Alternate jurors hear the evidence just as the other jurors do, but they don’t participate in the deliberations unless they replace an original juror.

How many jurors are needed for a trial?

Steps in a Trial 1 In civil cases, especially in courts of limited jurisdiction, the standard size in many jurisdictions is becoming six, which can be increased by stipulation of both parties. 2 In misdemeanor cases there are sometimes fewer than twelve jurors, though in serious criminal cases twelve jurors are generally required. 3 The old requirement that juries be unanimous is also changing. In misdemeanor and civil cases particularly, states often provide for verdicts based on the agreement of three-fourths or five-sixths of the jurors.

How many people are on the jury list?

In many jurisdictions, jury selection begins with the court clerk's calling twelve people on the jury list and asking them to take a place in the jury box. The judge usually makes a brief statement explaining what kind of case is to be tried and inquiring whether there is any reason the potential jurors cannot serve.

Can a juror be dismissed for cause?

For example, a juror can be dismissed for cause if he or she is a close relative of one of the parties or one of the lawyers, or if he or she works for a company that is part of the lawsuit. Each lawyer may request the dismissal of an unlimited number of jurors for cause.

Can a lawyer challenge a jury without stating a cause?

Each request will be considered by the judge and may or may not be allowed. In addition to challenges for cause, each lawyer has a specific number of peremptory challenges. These challenges permit a lawyer to excuse a potential juror without stating a cause.

Why are police officers dismissed from jury duty?

Most police officers, lawyers, doctors, and government officials will be dismissed because of their extensive industry knowledge and experience.

What does it mean when you get summoned to jury duty?

Receiving a summon means that you need to show up for the juror selection process. During juror selection, about one hundred people will report for duty, and only about 15–20 of those people will end up participating as members of a jury.

What is the Jury Act?

The Jury Act was created to ensure that employers cannot wrongfully fire, harass, or intimidate an employee while they participate in jury duty; however, there is no law stating they must compensate you for your participation.

How old do you have to be to be on the jury?

Depending on your state of residence, your age can excuse you from jury duty. In many states, men and women over age 70 are exempt from serving as jurors. Check your state's age requirements for jury service.

How long does it take to get paid for grand jury?

You will receive your payment within 4 to 6 weeks.

How long can you work on a civil case?

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself on a long, drawn-out case (like a serious crime or a major civil dispute), you may end up working on that case for months, but that is very rare. Jury service is very unpredictable, and that is why so many people are eager to get out of it.

Can you be a juror if you are the primary caregiver?

If you are the primary caregiver for a young child and attending court would create a hardship in providing care for that child, then you have a valid reason not to be a juror. If you use this excuse, be prepared to explain to the judge why no one else in your family can care for the child except for yourself and why daycare is not an option.

What happens when you are called to jury duty?

When you are called for jury duty, you get the dreaded summons in the mail commanding you to appear in court on a certain date, at a certain time. Once you check in, you're told to hurry up and wait in a big room commonly known as the jury room .

What happens if you are left on the jury?

You don't often hear lawyers talk about this. If you're left on the jury panel after other jurors have been removed, you will be part of the jury that sits in judgment to decide this case.

What is medical malpractice law?

Medical malpractice law is a fascinating area of law. It is technical. It is highly specialized and requires a great deal of knowledge of medicine as well as a high degree of trial skill. In this lecture, which was designed to teach lawyers who practice in other areas of law, what they need to know about medical malpractice law in New York. Lawyers across the country

Is jury selection a jury selection?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that jury selection is not really jury selection. The words"jury selection" give you the sense that lawyers go into a room and actually choose jurors we want on the jury. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jury selection should really be called jury de-selection.

Is jury selection like that?

Jury selection is nothing like that. Lawyers don't go into a room full of strangers from the community and look at a piece of paper and say "I want Jim, Jane and John. They're they best jurors here. You can have the leftovers.". It doesn't work that way.

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Economic Hardship

Personal Opinions

  • During the jury selection process, both sides will ask prospective jurors about their personal thoughts and opinions. Anyone who has a strong opinion that relates to the case will generally receive a dismissal. For example, a potential juror might believe that women are bad drivers. In a case involving a female driver, the defense attorney will request that individual’s dismissal from …
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Felony Conviction

  • One of the other reasons people are excused from jury duty is because of a felony conviction. When you receive a felony conviction, you will typically lose some of your civil rights, including your right to vote and your right to sit on a jury. When the jury selection process first begins, make sure that you inform both sides of your criminal record. This is one of the easiest and fastest wa…
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Family Issues

  • The defense and prosecution will often dismiss prospective jurors because of family issues. They know that a juror concerned about his or her kids at home will have a harder time focusing on the details of the case. If you are a stay at home parent, you can show proof that you must be home with your children. This can include showing proof that you...
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Physical/Mental Disabilities

  • According to the United States Court, other reasons people are excused from jury duty include physical or mental disabilities. You must speak and understand enough English to fill out the jury forms, and you must also have the mental and physical capacities necessary to sit in the court, hear the attorneys and witnesses speak and make a decision on your own. United States Court p…
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