Legal Definitions - jury panel

A jury panel is a group of people who are selected to perform jury duty in a judicial proceeding.

In a jury panel, each person is a prospective juror. They are briefed by the judges and challenged by lawyers who are provided with a jury list containing each prospective juror’s name, address, and occupation.

For example, in a criminal case, a jury panel may consist of 50 people. The lawyers will then question each person to determine if they can act impartially.

Generally, eight jurors are seated in a jury panel in civil cases, with six selected to deliberate and two serving as alternates. A greater number of jurors are assigned to a jury panel in criminal cases because a trial jury in criminal cases usually have 12 people.

For instance, in a civil case, a jury panel may consist of 30 people. The lawyers will then select eight jurors to hear the case.

A jury panel is supposed to be racially diverse and representative of different communities.

For example, if a trial is taking place in a diverse city, the jury panel should include people from different races and backgrounds to ensure a fair trial.