Michael Jackson Jury

[smadge]

How do they go about choosing a jury in the USA, is it different from the UK? Most of the people they got for Jackson seem to see him as a big superstar?
Please, just answers to those questions, possible libel here.

[andy hughes]

Jury selection is based on finding twelve people who are 'peers' of the defendent - as equal a mix of ages, occupations and so on as can reasonably be found. Anyone with any direct link to the defendent is automatically barred. each juror us quetioned by Defence and Prosecution counsels who can reject them on the basis of their answers, which may indicate a certain predjudice or pre-disposition towards an opinion which prevents the juror from acting only on the evidence they hear.

It would be impossible to find anyone in the western world who has not heard of Michael Jackson - but the rule still applies - innocent until proven guilty, based on the evidence given, and nothing else.

These rules apply in the UK and the US.

[Ouisch]

Each prospective juror is subject to "voir dire" by attorneys from both sides, as well as the judge (sometimes).  They will ask you about your job (are you in law enforcement?), your family (are you related to anyone in law enforcement?), your beliefs (are you opposed to the death penalty?), your basic knowledge of the case at hand (have you read about it in the papers?)  In Jackson's case, most likely the attorneys will ask prospective jurors if they were ever the victims of molestation, or if they know of anyone that was.  (That could prejudice their opinion, and would probably get them dismissed.)  Each time one attorney approves a juror, the other side has the opportunity to challenge the selection.  It's a long, arduous process, and involves not only selecting 12 jurors, but also six alternates.

[AB Editor]

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