Jury Voir Dire sample questions and answers
VOIR DIRE
1.Has any member of the jury, or a family member or close friend ever been a defendant or a witness in a criminal trial?
Plant – yes. My mother was a witness in a shoplifting case. She was not a victim, however.
2.Have any of you ever sat as a juror before?
Plant – yes. I was a juror in a civil trial seeking damages from a car accident
3.Have any of you ever had any unpleasant experience with police, lawyers, judges, or the court system?
Plant – Yes. I was given a speeding ticket by a cop who would think a turtle goes to fast.
4.Do any of you believe that if a person is charged with a crime, he or she must be guilty of something?
Plant – Yes, I think a case wouldn't get this far unless the defendant did something wrong.
5.In a criminal case, the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, rather than the lesser standard of preponderance of the evidence used in civil trials. Would any of you have any idea or opinion that would interfere with your ability to find a defendant not guilty if the evidence did not meet the high reasonable doubt standard?
6.Earlier, you saw a list of the witnesses in the trial. Do any of you know personally the defendant or any of the witnesses, or the deceased?
Plant – Yes, I served in the navy with Mr. Burley, although I barely knew him.
7.Have any of you ever been a victim of a violent crime, or has any family member or close friend been a victim of a violent crime?
Plant – Yes. My best friend was mugged.
8.At the end of this trial, you will be instructed on the law as it pertains to this case and, under our system of justice, you must follow the law. Is there any member of the jury who feels that you would not be able to follow the law if you personally are opposed to that law?
Plant – Yes. I would not follow the letter of the law if I thought an injustice would result.
1.Has any member of the jury, or a family member or close friend ever been a defendant or a witness in a criminal trial?
Plant – yes. My mother was a witness in a shoplifting case. She was not a victim, however.
2.Have any of you ever sat as a juror before?
Plant – yes. I was a juror in a civil trial seeking damages from a car accident
3.Have any of you ever had any unpleasant experience with police, lawyers, judges, or the court system?
Plant – Yes. I was given a speeding ticket by a cop who would think a turtle goes to fast.
4.Do any of you believe that if a person is charged with a crime, he or she must be guilty of something?
Plant – Yes, I think a case wouldn't get this far unless the defendant did something wrong.
5.In a criminal case, the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, rather than the lesser standard of preponderance of the evidence used in civil trials. Would any of you have any idea or opinion that would interfere with your ability to find a defendant not guilty if the evidence did not meet the high reasonable doubt standard?
6.Earlier, you saw a list of the witnesses in the trial. Do any of you know personally the defendant or any of the witnesses, or the deceased?
Plant – Yes, I served in the navy with Mr. Burley, although I barely knew him.
7.Have any of you ever been a victim of a violent crime, or has any family member or close friend been a victim of a violent crime?
Plant – Yes. My best friend was mugged.
8.At the end of this trial, you will be instructed on the law as it pertains to this case and, under our system of justice, you must follow the law. Is there any member of the jury who feels that you would not be able to follow the law if you personally are opposed to that law?
Plant – Yes. I would not follow the letter of the law if I thought an injustice would result.