Which process involves questioning potential jurors?

The process of questioning potential jurors is known as voir dire. This term originates from the French phrase meaning "to tell the truth," and it is a critical stage in the jury selection process. During voir dire, attorneys for both parties, as well as the judge, engage with potential jurors to assess their suitability to serve on a jury for a specific case. The goal is to ensure that jurors can be fair and impartial, as well as to uncover any biases or preconceived notions they may have about the case at hand.

This process allows attorneys to ask questions that reveal jurors' backgrounds, beliefs, and potential conflicts of interest. Based on their responses, attorneys can challenge certain jurors’ inclusion on the panel, either through "for cause" challenges (showing a valid reason a juror should not serve) or "peremptory" challenges (where they can dismiss a juror without providing a reason).

In contrast, jury instruction refers to the guidelines provided by the judge to the jury regarding how to conduct their deliberations, whereas writ issuance pertains to the formal order issued by a court, and probation assessment involves evaluating an individual's suitability for probation considerations, typically after a conviction.