What is the process of jury selection for criminal cases?

Jury selection is the process of choosing 12 members of a community to serve on a jury for a criminal trial in North Dakota. The process begins when potential jurors are summoned to the courthouse. The judge will greet the potential jurors and explain the legal proceedings and their role in the trial. The judge and legal teams involved in the case will then ask prospective jurors questions to determine if they are suitable to serve on the jury. During this phase, potential jurors can be dismissed for various reasons depending on the case. The judge and legal teams are looking for people with no existing opinion or bias towards the case and are willing to consider all of the evidence presented in a fair manner. After the questioning, each side will have an opportunity to show cause for the dismissal of any potential jurors. If both sides approve, the 12 jurors will then be selected. After the jury is selected, the judge will typically give an oath to the jurors, swearing them to “render a verdict according to the evidence presented.” The jurors will then receive a copy of the jury instructions and listen to opening arguments from the attorneys in the case. The jury is responsible for making a decision based solely on the evidence presented and the jury instructions provided by the judge. At the end of the trial, the jury will deliberate in private and make a decision on the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

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