Dressler, p. 9-10, “Criminal Law in a Procedural Context: Trial by Jury”

The constitutional right to trial by jury is explained as a protection against arbitrary use of power by the government and as a guarantee that defendants will enjoy the “common-sense judgment” of a jury of their peers.

The purpose of “voir dire” is to eliminate any jurors who will be partial to one side or the other. You can’t eliminate potential jurors based solely on race or gender.

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