Which Latin term means 'to speak the truth' and relates to juror qualifications?

• A. Voir dire
• B. Ex post facto
• C. Mens rea
• D. Stare decisis

Answer: (A)

Voir dire is the process used in jury selection where lawyers and the judge question prospective jurors to uncover biases, connections, or anything that could prevent a fair verdict. The term itself comes from French/Latin and means “to speak the truth,” highlighting the expectation that jurors reveal information honestly so that the court can assess their ability to be impartial. This directly ties to juror qualifications because the screening determines who is suitable to serve and capable of truthfully addressing concerns that might affect their judgment during the case. By contrast, ex post facto refers to applying laws retroactively, mens rea concerns the mental state required for criminal liability, and stare decisis is the principle of following precedent. The sense of truth-telling in the context of evaluating jurors points to voir dire.