New York State Court Clerk Practice Exam

The process that begins a jury trial is the selection of the jury. This crucial step, known as "voir dire," involves questioning potential jurors to determine their suitability to serve on the jury for a specific case. During this selection process, both attorneys have the opportunity to assess jurors for biases or preconceived opinions that may affect their impartiality.

Choosing a jury is foundational to ensuring a fair trial, as the jurors will ultimately be tasked with evaluating the evidence and determining the verdict. Without this selection process, there would be no jury to hear the case, making it impossible to proceed with the trial.

Following the selection of the jury, the trial typically moves on to the opening statements by the attorneys, where they outline their case to the jurors. This phase is dependent on having a jury in place, which highlights the importance of the initial selection process.