The Importance of the Jury in Your Criminal Trial in Jackson, Mississippi
If you are facing drug charges, misdemeanor, felony, or other serious criminal charges, and are not pleading guilty, you have the right to a jury trial. A trial jury is a group of 12 people who will hear a case in court and who get to decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. In order for a person to be charged with a crime, the jury must unanimously decide a guilty verdict. This means that every member of the jury must find the accused “guilty.” Jackson County Mississippi notes that in order for a person to be found guilty, all 12 jurors must agree beyond a reasonable doubt that the person charged is guilty. If even one juror finds you innocent, you cannot be charged with the crime. In some cases, where juries are undecided, the courts may try to pressure jurors to make a decision one way or another, but if this happens in your trial, you may have a better chance to appeal a case where jurors might have been coerced into making a decision. If you are facing criminal charges, you have the right to a fair trial with a jury of your peers. One of the important parts of any trial is juror selection. Before a jury is selected for a criminal case, the judge and attorneys for both sides have the ability to ask potential jurors questions. This process, known as voir dire, which is Latin for “to speak the truth,” gives your criminal defense attorney the opportunity to evaluate potential jurors. Every aspect of a criminal trial can have an impact on its outcome—from the gathering of evidence to support your innocence, to the selection of jurors, to the way evidence is presented in court.
The Law Office of Andrew Sorrentino is a criminal defense law firm in Jackson, Mississippi who can assist you with all aspects of your criminal case—from putting together evidence to defend your innocence to ensuring that there are no errors or few errors during the jury selection process. A criminal conviction can damage your reputation, result in jail time and fines, and lead to other serious collateral consequences. The Law Office of Andrew Sorrentino is a criminal defense law firm in Jackson, Mississippi who defends the accused.
Understanding the Jury Selection Process in Jackson, Mississippi
During the jury selection process, jurors are first asked questions about their ability to serve on the jury. If a person has critical responsibilities outside of court that could interfere with jury service (like caring for a sick relative or attending school full time), the person may be excused. After this stage, attorneys from both sides can ask questions of the jurors to evaluate their biases and to determine whether they know anything about the case. The questions are generally designed to evaluate whether a juror might have a background or bias that might predispose him or her to favor one side over the other. There are some situations where a juror might not be selected to hear a case. For example, if a juror says that she would never vote for a guilty verdict on moral grounds, this juror might not be chosen. Other situations might result in a juror not being selected. If a juror is found to have a personal relationship with anyone involved in the case, is found to be of a similar profession to the accused, or found to have biases that could impact the outcome of the case, the juror might not be selected. Your criminal defense attorney may be able to challenge a juror if he or she believes the juror might be biased. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can review a juror’s background to reveal any biases. During the questioning phase, your criminal defense lawyer will also look at a juror’s body language, both during jury selection and during trial to evaluate how the argument is working or not working. The Law Office of Andrew Sorrentino is a criminal defense law firm in Jackson, Mississippi that may be able to assist you through all stages of your criminal trial, including during the important process of jury selection. Facing criminal charges? Have questions about whether you should go to trial or take a plea deal? The Law Office of Andrew Sorrentinocan help.
Criminal Defense Lawyer—For All Stages of Your Case
In a criminal case, especially in a criminal trial, all stages of your case matter, including the important jury selection process. The jury will decide your fate. It is important that your attorney oversee a selection of impartial jurors. If you are facing criminal charges in Jackson, Mississippi, you are innocent until proven guilty. Reach out to The Law Office of Andrew Sorrentino today, or connect with our lawyers by reaching out to USAttorneys.com today to learn more about your options and rights under the law.
