Question 1

A prospective juror in almost all cases may be challenged for cause because he or she:

Accepted Answer

A prospective juror can be challenged for cause if they have a preconceived idea about the defendant's guilt or innocence, as this may prevent them from being impartial.

Question 2

Although the word "peers" is nowhere in the Constitution, modernly a jury of one's peers actually means:

Accepted Answer

The concept of a jury of one's peers has evolved to mean a jury composed of individuals who represent a broad cross-section of the community where the trial is held, ensuring that the defendant is judged by an impartial group reflective of societal diversity.

Question 3

The right to excuse a prospective juror without stating a cause is:

Accepted Answer

A peremptory challenge allows attorneys to reject a certain number of prospective jurors without stating a reason. This is a standard part of jury selection in both criminal and civil trials.

Question 4

Possible qualifications to act as a juror:
(1) citizen of the U.S.,
(2) 18 years old or older,
(3) resident of the district in which the trial is held, and
(4) of the same race as the defendant.
Which of the above are necessary qualifications for a juror?

Accepted Answer

Qualifications to act as a juror typically include being a citizen of the U.S., being 18 years old or older, and being a resident of the district in which the trial is held. Requirement 4, being of the same race as the defendant, is not a legal requirement for jurors and goes against principles of non-discrimination.

Question 5

The provision of a "jury of one's peers" originated in a provision of the:

Accepted Answer

The concept of a "jury of one's peers" originated from the Magna Carta, a charter of liberties agreed to by King John of England in 1215. It established the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.

Question 6

The Supreme Court, in Fay v. New York held that a defendant had a right to:

Accepted Answer

In Fay v. New York, the Supreme Court did not establish a right for a defendant to have a trial jury selected from his or her economic class, social class, or racial group. The decision does not mandate representation on the jury based on these specific classifications.

Question 7

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a defendant has a right to:

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has not specifically held that a defendant has a right to a jury composed of both men and women, members from other minority groups, or young people. The Court has emphasized the importance of a fair cross-section of the community but has not mandated specific demographic compositions.

Question 8

Which of the below statements is true regarding challenging jurors for cause?

Accepted Answer

The defense (and the prosecution) has unlimited challenges for cause, which are used to remove potential jurors who are deemed incapable of delivering an impartial verdict. These challenges require the party to provide a specific reason why a juror should not serve, and there is no limit to the number of such challenges that can be made, as long as they are deemed valid by the court.

Question 9

Which of the below cases placed restrictions on the use of race-based peremptory challenges by counsel?

Accepted Answer

Batson v. Kentucky (1986) is the case that placed restrictions on the use of race-based peremptory challenges by counsel. It established that the exclusion of jurors based on race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Question 10

The primary reason that a trial judge would sequester the jury is:

Accepted Answer

Sequestering a jury is primarily done to protect them from outside influences that could affect their impartiality and decision-making process during a trial.

Question 11

Which of the following cases stands for the proposition that peremptory challenges may not be used to exclude prospective jurors on the basis of gender?

Accepted Answer

J.E.B. v. Alabama is the case that established the principle that peremptory challenges cannot be used to exclude prospective jurors based on their gender, extending the Batson v. Kentucky decision, which addressed racial discrimination in jury selection, to also include gender discrimination.

Question 12

The concept of a trial by a jury of one's peers was brought to America by:

Accepted Answer

The concept of a trial by a jury of one's peers was brought to America by the colonists, specifically those from England, where the practice had been established as part of the common law tradition.

Question 13

The ________, which was prepared by noblemen for their own benefit, was intended to prohibit the king from seizing and imprisoning a nobleman merely on a whim.

Accepted Answer

The Magna Carta, prepared by English noblemen in 1215, was intended to limit the powers of the king, including preventing the arbitrary imprisonment of nobles without due process.

Question 14

Women were granted the right to vote with the ________ Amendment.

Accepted Answer

The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote.

Question 15

In ________, the Court stated, "The American tradition of trial by jury, considered in connection with either criminal or civil proceedings, necessarily contemplates an impartial jury drawn from a cross section of the community."

Accepted Answer

Glasser v. United States is the case where the Court highlighted the importance of an impartial jury drawn from a cross-section of the community, emphasizing the American tradition of trial by jury in both criminal and civil proceedings.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a general qualification to serve on a jury?

Accepted Answer

Having no prior criminal convictions, including misdemeanors, is not a universal disqualification for jury service. While felony convictions can disqualify a person in many jurisdictions, misdemeanors do not automatically disqualify someone from serving on a jury in all areas.

Question 17

A person must be of ________ intelligence to qualify as a juror in most states.

Accepted Answer

Jurors are expected to have ordinary intelligence, meaning they should be able to understand the case and evidence presented to them without requiring advanced or high intelligence. This ensures a broad representation of the community.

Question 18

In almost all instances, the prospective juror who has formed an opinion about the defendant's guilt or innocence prior to a trial has formed that opinion as a result of:

Accepted Answer

Pretrial publicity is the most common reason prospective jurors form opinions about a defendant's guilt or innocence before a trial. This is because media coverage can present information, whether factual or speculative, that influences public perception.

Question 19

Implied bias is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Implied bias refers to a presumed bias or prejudice that arises from a person's relationship or association with others, such as family ties (consanguinity or affinity), employment relationships, or property interests (landlord and tenant). These relationships can potentially influence one's impartiality, hence all the options listed are considered forms of implied bias.

Question 20

The phrase ________ is used to indicate a jury in which the members have stated that, if appropriate, they would vote for the death penalty.

Accepted Answer

A death-qualified jury is specifically selected to ensure that all jurors are willing to consider the death penalty as a possible sentence in capital cases.

Quiz 10: Jury