The venire is summoned from source lists such as voter registration and driver records. Challenges to the venire assert that the selection process systematically excluded a distinctive group.
Fair cross-section requirements apply to the pool rather than the seated jury.
Alternative Names:
Jury Pool, Panel
Why it Matters?
The fair cross-section requirement applies to the source from which the venire is drawn, not to the composition of any particular jury, which is why a jury lacking members of a group is not itself a constitutional violation. Challenging the venire requires statistical evidence of systematic underrepresentation over time, which is a substantial undertaking rarely pursued outside criminal practice.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does a jury lacking a group violate the fair cross-section requirement?
What does a venire challenge require?
