When it comes to personal injury cases in Missouri, a crucial part of the process is the selection of a jury. This is the point at which the attorneys on both sides work to choose the individuals who will ultimately decide the outcome of the trial. Here’s what to expect during jury selection in Missouri personal injury cases.
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Purpose of Jury Selection
The purpose of jury selection is to choose a group of individuals who can be impartial in their decision-making process. Each side will want to select jurors who are likely to be sympathetic to their viewpoint, but not so biased that they cannot fairly evaluate the evidence presented in court.
Preparing for Jury Selection
Before the selection process begins, both sides will have an opportunity to review a list of potential jurors. This list will typically include basic information about each individual, such as their age, occupation, and marital status.
Each side will have the opportunity to remove potential jurors from the list through a process called voir dire. During voir dire, the attorneys will ask questions of the potential jurors to determine whether they have any biases or preconceptions that could interfere with their ability to make a fair decision.
The Jury Selection Process
The actual jury selection process begins with the Judge randomly selecting a group of potential jurors from the larger pool. These individuals will be called into the courtroom and seated in the jury box.
At this point, both sides will have the opportunity to question the potential jurors in more detail. This questioning is typically aimed at uncovering any biases or beliefs that could make the juror unsuitable for the case.
Challenges for Cause
If either side feels that a potential juror is biased or would be unable to judge the case fairly, they can ask the Judge to exclude that individual from the jury. This process is called a challenge for cause. Reasons for challenge for cause can include things like a connection to the parties involved in the case, a conflict of interest, or an inability to understand the evidence presented.
Peremptory Challenges
In addition to challenges for cause, both sides are also allowed a limited number of peremptory challenges. These challenges can be used to exclude potential jurors for any reason, except for reasons based on race, gender, or other protected classes. The number of peremptory challenges allowed varies depending on the type of case and the Court.
Choosing the Jury
Once both sides have completed the questioning process and any necessary challenges have been made, the attorneys will begin the process of choosing the final jurors. In most cases, each side will have the opportunity to strike a certain number of jurors from the list, leaving only those individuals they feel are most likely to be impartial.
Once the final jurors have been chosen, they will be sworn in and the trial can proceed.
Conclusion
Jury selection is an important part of the personal injury trial process in Missouri. By carefully choosing the individuals who will ultimately decide the outcome of the case, both sides can increase the likelihood of a fair and just verdict. By understanding the process of jury selection, those involved in a personal injury case can be better prepared for what to expect as the trial progresses.