Voir dire is used to determine what?

• A. To determine guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
• B. To decide the verdict
• C. To determine juror qualifications and fitness to serve
• D. To select jurors for the panel

Answer: (C)

Voir dire is the process of questioning potential jurors to assess their eligibility and their ability to serve impartially. The goal is to uncover biases, conflicts of interest, prior knowledge about the case, language or mental health issues, or other factors that could prevent a fair, neutral deliberation. This screening helps ensure the jury that sits in judgment can evaluate the evidence objectively. It’s not about determining guilt or deciding the verdict during the questioning, and while it leads to who sits on the panel, its primary function is to identify who is qualified and fit to serve.