Voir Dire

What is a Voir Dire?

A voir dire, commonly known as jury selection, is the process in which attorneys select jurors for a trial, by questioning prospective jurors to determine their suitability to serve on the jury.

According to the Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School, voir dire is “the process of questioning potential jurors to determine their qualifications and biases before being chosen to sit on a jury.” As such, the purpose of voir dire is to ensure that the selected jury is impartial, unbiased, and capable of delivering a fair verdict based on the evidence presented during the trial. 

The process involves both general questions posed to the entire jury panel and specific questions directed at individual jurors, with questions ranging from inquiries about a juror’s background, occupation, and experiences to more specific questions regarding their opinions on issues related to the case. For instance, in a criminal trial, potential jurors might be asked about their views on law enforcement, their familiarity with the case, or their experiences with similar legal issues. The benefits of voir dire include the creation of a fair and unbiased jury, which is crucial for upholding the integrity of the judicial system and ensuring just outcomes in trials.