Any Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or older, residing in any of the provinces in Canada could be sent juror summons. This doesn’t mean you automatically get to sit in on a trial, though.
After you get summoned, you’ll undergo a close questioning by the lawyers and judge. This process is called “voir dire.” It’s where they ask you questions that help them know if you’re impartial or biased on certain topics.
If the lawyers feel that you’re not the right person to be called onto the jury, they could challenge you. This means the attorney is asking the judge to not include you in the panel. With enough reason, the judge grants it.
How Attorneys Choose a Jury:
Rather than picking the jurors that they like one by one, lawyers tend to choose the ones they want to drop from the panel. They also sometimes ask for legal support from jury consultants to make sure they’re choosing the right people.
Here are the things that lawyers look for when choosing a jury.
History With the Law:
Your own experiences with the law influence the way you perceive it. If you’ve been in a similar experience as the plaintiff or defendant, chances are you’ll be more inclined to side with them.
Lawyers ask probing questions during voir dire to check if you have biases that might affect jury decisions in cases.
Body Language:
Body language says a lot about a person. Your subconscious habits and facial expressions could let attorneys know in a snap whether you’d make a good juror.
If you cross your arms or legs while talking to them, it could send the impression that you won’t be very willing to hear their side at the trial.
Religion and Beliefs:
Some religions have doctrines that hinder them from making sound judgments. Your beliefs heavily influence you in making decisions.
There could be crucial biases based on these, so lawyers make sure to look out for anything that might impair your judgment in the trial.
Personal Relationships:
Personal relationships also influence your viewpoint on certain topics. If you’re sitting in on a tax evasion case and you have a close friend working at the Bureau of Internal Revenue, it might influence your decision.
You’re more likely to side with the prosecution because you understand the state’s side better.
Social Media:
Attorneys may also look into your social media accounts to get a better grasp of your personality and beliefs. They could check the people you follow, the groups you’re a member of, and the comments you leave on social media posts.
If there’s a red flag in any of these, you might be challenged by the lawyer.
Demeanour and Attitude:
The way you behave in court matters a lot. If you’re respectful and polite with your way of talking, you’ll have higher chances of being selected into the jury.
Attorneys look into your overall court behavior to see if you would be of good value to the jury during trials.
Wardrobe and Appearance:
What you wear to court is also an aspect that lawyers look into. People who wear casual and baggy clothes are perceived to be more open-minded than those who wear tight clothes and pointed shoes.
Attorneys are more likely to choose people who dress conservatively and follow courtroom protocols.
Leadership Skills:
Your leadership skills are something that attorneys take note of. Strong leadership skills are powerful enough to sway the jury’s decision.
If strong leadership skills would not work in their favour, the attorney would almost certainly drop you from the panel.
Jury Selection:
While everyone can be a juror, not everyone actually becomes one. When you receive a juror summons, ask for legal advice on court protocols so that you have an idea of what you should do as a juror.
The jury is an important part of court proceedings. This is why the selection process is made to be meticulous. It’s for ensuring that decisions are impartial and balanced.
Again, here are the things that lawyers look for in a jury selection:
- History with the law. Your own experiences with the law influence your judgement in cases.
- Body language. Your non-verbal cues are also telling of the kind of person that you are.
- Religion and beliefs. Your ideals and beliefs heavily influence the way you think about the facts presented in court.
- Personal relationships. Your connections with people in different fields also affect your decision-making.
- Social media. Your social media footprint is also telling of your inclinations and possible biases.
- Demeanour and attitude. Your overall behaviour while in court is also one thing that influences an attorney’s decision in keeping you on the jury.
- Wardrobe and appearance. Your clothing and the way you carry yourself are telling of how you will conduct yourself in court hearings.
- Leadership skills. Your leadership skills will also be assessed by lawyers and will be a deciding factor whether to drop you from the panel or keep you.