How do prosecutors and defense lawyers choose a jury in criminal defense law?

In California, the jury selection process in criminal defense law begins when the judge invites potential jurors to the courthouse. In order to begin the selection process, both the prosecutor and defense lawyer have the opportunity to ask a set of questions, known as Voire Dire, to the potential jurors. Following this questioning, both the prosecutor and defense lawyer are then able to dismiss certain jurors they believe to be unfit to serve on the case. The goal of the prosecutor is to select jurors who will be more likely to convict the accused of the crime. The defense lawyer, on the other hand, wishes to choose jurors who are more likely to be sympathetic to their client’s case. In order to do this, lawyers ask questions which will allow them to gain information about the potential jurors and their biases and beliefs. The defense lawyer can also choose to use peremptory challenges to dismiss jurors. The number of peremptory challenges allowed is based on the severity of the charges in the case. After the questioning and dismissal of jurors, the judge may also dismiss potential jurors in order to ensure an unbiased jury is chosen. After both the defense and prosecutor have made their choices, a jury is selected to hear the case. The purpose of this selection procedure is to ensure that the accused receives a fair trial and is judged by a jury of their peers. The jury is then asked to listen to the facts of the case and make a decision based on the evidence presented by both sides.

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How do prosecutors and defense lawyers choose a jury in criminal defense law?

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