voir dire

Originating from the French phrase meaning 'to speak the truth,' 'voir dire' is a crucial part of the legal process in jury trials.

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Definition

(legal)The process of questioning potential jurors to determine their suitability for jury service.

During voir dire, the attorneys asked the potential jurors about their backgrounds and any biases they might have.

(legal)A preliminary examination to determine the admissibility of evidence or the competence of a witness.

The judge conducted a voir dire to decide if the witness was qualified to testify.

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "voir dire":