Legal Definitions - impanel

Impanel

To impanel means to choose and assign a group of people called a jury to decide a case. It is also known as empanel. The process of impaneling may include:

• Collecting the names of potential jurors randomly
• Selecting the individuals who will serve on the jury
• Allowing potential jurors to state reasons why they should not serve on the jury
• Allowing the defense and prosecution to dismiss potential jurors
• Swearing in the jurors and alternate jurors

During a trial, the judge will impanel a jury to hear the evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The process of impaneling involves selecting a group of people who are unbiased and able to make a fair decision based on the evidence presented in court.

For example, in a high-profile murder case, the judge may need to impanel a larger jury pool to ensure that there are enough potential jurors to choose from. The judge will then select the individuals who will serve on the jury and dismiss any potential jurors who may have a conflict of interest or bias.

Another example is during the O.J. Simpson trial, the process of impaneling a jury took several weeks due to the high-profile nature of the case. The judge had to ensure that the selected jurors were not influenced by media coverage and could make an impartial decision based on the evidence presented in court.

These examples illustrate how impaneling is an important part of the legal process to ensure that a fair and impartial jury is selected to decide a case.