There’s a lot to look for when deciding who will be on a jury for a trial.
Manitowoc County District Attorney Jaclyn LeBre said on WOMT’s Be My Guest program last week the rule calls for 12 people to be on a jury for a criminal trial whether it’s something simple like a 2nd OWI or as gruesome as a homicide.
Each juror must be at least 18 and a resident of the county where the trial is scheduled to take place, but before they can be picked, a judge will ask questions in a jury pool.
“Do they know anything about the case or are they related to any of the parties (in the case),” LaBre explained. “Years ago, I had an assistant DA I worked with where she was in the jury pool for her own trial, so we had to quick get her excused so that she didn’t taint the jury pool.”
After the judge asks questions, the attorneys for the prosecution and defense get to answer questions.
LeBre says she wants to make sure any potential juror can be impartial because someone who is picked but has been a victim of a crime might not be impartial.
But the DA says another area focused on before a trial is what’s been seen about a case in the media because it’s important not to taint the jury pool, especially when some higher profile cases regarding missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue are constantly in the media.
But LeBre says even if you are familiar with the case, that doesn’t mean you can’t be a juror.
“The big thing is if you can be impartial and set aside what you’ve heard and focus purely on the evidence that’s in the courtroom,” she noted.
LeBre continues saying they will always ask jurors what they’ve seen in the media, and now, with social media, they must ask a few more questions before they pick a potential juror.
If you are picked for jury duty, you will receive a letter from the county telling you you’ve been summoned and must attend.
If you don’t show up, you could be charged with contempt of court and possible criminal prosecution for yourself.
