Which tactic allows an attorney to remove a juror without stating a reason?

Prepare for the AP Gov Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam today!

Multiple Choice

Which tactic allows an attorney to remove a juror without stating a reason?

Explanation:
Peremptory challenges are a tool in jury selection that lets each side strike a potential juror without having to give a reason. This allows attorneys to shape the jury based on their impressions of how a juror might decide the case, within limits. Challenges for cause, by contrast, require a stated reason showing why a juror cannot be impartial, and the judge must agree. While peremptory challenges exist to help ensure a fair panel, they are not meant to be used to discriminate; the law now prohibits removing jurors based on protected characteristics, though the basic idea remains: no justification is required at the moment of removal. The other terms don’t fit because double jeopardy concerns trying someone twice for the same crime, not selecting jurors; equality of opportunity and affirmative action deal with broad civil rights and policy aims, not the specific jury selection tool that allows removing a juror without explanation.

Peremptory challenges are a tool in jury selection that lets each side strike a potential juror without having to give a reason. This allows attorneys to shape the jury based on their impressions of how a juror might decide the case, within limits. Challenges for cause, by contrast, require a stated reason showing why a juror cannot be impartial, and the judge must agree. While peremptory challenges exist to help ensure a fair panel, they are not meant to be used to discriminate; the law now prohibits removing jurors based on protected characteristics, though the basic idea remains: no justification is required at the moment of removal.

The other terms don’t fit because double jeopardy concerns trying someone twice for the same crime, not selecting jurors; equality of opportunity and affirmative action deal with broad civil rights and policy aims, not the specific jury selection tool that allows removing a juror without explanation.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy