What is an ‘Impartial Jury’?

February 19, 2013

You have the right to a fair trial with an impartial jury as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. An impartial jury is made up of a cross-section of the public. However, a 2012 study of 700 felony trials published by The Quarterly Journal of Economics suggested that juries without at least one member of the defendant’s race often decided against the defendant.

If you are charged with a crime, whether a felony or misdemeanor, you need an experienced court lawyer who can get the most impartial jury for you. The way lawyers do this is by interviewing the potential jurors so that the eventual jury will be a good representation of the community. If not, then a good defense lawyer can challenge the makeup of the jury pool.