The judge, and often the attorneys, will ask the jurors questions to determine whether they have any feelings or biases about the case or the parties to the lawsuit. If a juror cannot be impartial, they will be removed or excused from the jury panel through the exercise of a challenge for cause. The parties are additionally entitled to a certain number of peremptory challenges, which allows them to excuse a juror who has not shown bias or prejudice. The process of selecting jurors and asking them questions is called voir dire. After the jurors are selected they will take an oath, promising to follow the law as explained by the judge.
Juries decide disputed questions of fact and apply the law as instructed by the court to the facts.
A. Juries are composed of members of the community where the trial is held. Ordinarily, they are selected from the voting rolls and will be required to serve on juries periodically. In most jurisdictions, certain people can be exempted from or defer jury service, e.g., pregnant women, individuals who are ill, deaf or blind. Every state has rules that govern the conduct of a trial. Rules of evidence are designed to assure that only credible and reliable evidence is presented to the judge or jury.