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It is imperative to ensure that an impartial jury – or even a jury favorable to you – presides over your criminal case. The jury selection process provides an opportunity to ask questions of potential jurors to ensure they are not biased against you. However, you must understand the rules for examination of trial jurors as well as the rules for excusing a juror for cause or raising peremptory challenges.
At LV Criminal Defense, our legal team is skilled in the art of jury selection. We work hard to try to help ensure that a jury is made up of people who are as predisposed as possible to voting to acquit our clients. We know that the jury selection process can make or break your case and can mean the difference between a guilty verdict and walking free. We’ll do everything possible to ensure you have the best chance of an acquittal based on the circumstances. Give us a call as early as possible during your involvement with the criminal justice system so you’ll have a Las Vegas criminal lawyer on your side for all phases of the trial process.
Nevada law entitles most defendants whose case is being heard in district court to a trial by jury. Those whose cases are being heard in justice court can have a trial by jury if they request one in writing. Depending upon whether the case is being heard in justice or district court, and depending upon any agreements between the prosecutor and defendant, there will be between 6 and 12 jurors making decisions on your case.
The jury who will hear the facts and apply the law is chosen from a jury pool in the area where the case is being tried. Examination of the jury is permitted by both prosecutors and defendants who want to ensure that no biased jury members find their way onto a jury.
Nevada Revised Statute section 175.031 sets the state rules for examination of potential jurors. The court first conducts the questioning of the prospective juror, with the defendant or the prosecutor permitted to supplement the examination by the court. Any requests for information outside of the court’s questioning must be deemed reasonable by the court, but courts do not have unfettered power as supplemental examination cannot be unreasonably restricted.
The purpose of the examination is to determine if a potential juror should be removed for cause under N.R.S. 175.036. Defendants and prosecutors also get peremptory challenges as described in N.R.S. 175.051. These can be used to excuse a particular person from jury duty without providing any specific reason or justification for why the individual is not someone you want on your jury.
Nick Wooldridge has a long track record of representing clients accused of serious federal and state crimes in Nevada.
You cannot afford to have a member of the jury be partial to a prosecutor. In fact, you need to do everything possible to ensure the jury that will make the decision on your guilt is a jury that is likely to be partial to you. There are many strategies involved in ensuring you get the most favorable jury possible, and LV Criminal Defense has the legal knowledge, insight, and experience to develop and carry forth a plan to try to get a jury that is least likely to convict.
Examination of trial jurors is one of the most important stages in the jury selection process, and an experienced Las Vegas defense attorney should be representing you during this phase of your criminal trial. Your lawyer will know the jury selection rules, will know what to ask- and how to ask it- and will know what to do when jury members answer questions in specific ways.
Don’t place your trust in just anyone to help pick a jury and present evidence to them when your future hangs in the balance. Call LV Criminal Defense today for help.
Trial By Jury or Court