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What is a Venire?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Venire is a legal term referring both to a writ ordering the assembly of a pool of prospective jurors, and to the pool of jurors itself. It is derived from a Latin word meaning “to assemble,” referencing the process of assembling potential members of a jury to determine if they will be suitable for a case. A closely related term, “venire de novo,” refers to a court order requesting the selection of a new group of prospective jurors for a repeat of a trial where there was a problem.

In the case of a legal writ, the venire is issued to request the selection of a pool of people for a trial. Jurors are usually selected through public records searches, with notices being sent out to people who are registered to vote or who hold drivers licenses, depending on how a region handles the process of juror recruitment. Some jurors respond to summons to disqualify themselves, while others are expected to show up in court on the appointed day to be questioned in a process known as voir dire. In voir dire, attorneys find suitable jurors for a case and then impanel a jury.

A juror questionnaire can be used to quickly rule out people who can not serve on a case.
A juror questionnaire can be used to quickly rule out people who can not serve on a case.

The venire in the sense of a pool of jurors includes everyone summoned by the writ. Many courthouses have a jury room where people wait when they arrive at the courthouse. The jurors must remain on call until they are called for voir dire or dismissed. Recognizing this civic duty as an imposition, courts provide compensation for missed work and also may offer things like wireless Internet at the courthouse so people have something to do while they wait.

A potential juror's stance on the death penalty can play an important role in jury selection for capital offenses.
A potential juror's stance on the death penalty can play an important role in jury selection for capital offenses.

In some cases, members of the juror pool may be screened before they are selected for voir dire. A juror questionnaire can be used to quickly rule out people who cannot serve on a case, such as people who know the parties involved. In nations where the death penalty is used, jurors may also be screened to create a death qualified venire, meaning that every person in the potential juror pool is comfortable with serving on a case where a guilty verdict can result in the death penalty.

Jury pools are typically selected using public databases like voter records.
Jury pools are typically selected using public databases like voter records.

Members of a venire are usually provided with directives to avoid discussing the case or seeking out information about it before voir dire. They are also typically asked to observe a dress code and some basic rules of conduct, including responding politely to questions, complying with orders from the judge or bailiffs, and using appropriate language in court.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a MyLawQuestions researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a MyLawQuestions researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Sierra02

@babylove - It's surprising to me how many people just like you waste so much precious time trying to figure out how to get out of jury duty. It's really not as frightening as you might think.

As a matter of a fact the worst part of the whole process to me is sitting around in the venire room waiting and wondering if you're going to be called.

From my personal experience, I don't think the lack of a babysitter is enough cause for jury dismissal. Everyone has to scramble around and make arrangements when it comes to jury duty.

Stay at home moms are no exception and you have to at least show up otherwise you'll really have something to worry about, a bench warrant.

babylove

I received a summons for jury duty last week and ever since then I've been a nervous wreck. I've been searching the Internet up one side and down the other trying to figure out how to get out of this thing.

I'm a stay at home mom with two children at home both under the age of four. My husband and all our relatives that live nearby all work during the day. Is it possible they'll excuse me from jury duty if I don't have anyone to watch my kids?

ellafarris

I found some interesting facts about the the word venire that I thought you might like to know. The word is actually pronounced ven-eer-ay and is sometimes called venire facias.

The true Latin meaning is "may you cause to come". The first known use of the word was back in the fifteenth century and it's an Italian verb meaning to come or arrive.

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    • A juror questionnaire can be used to quickly rule out people who can not serve on a case.
      By: Elenathewise
      A juror questionnaire can be used to quickly rule out people who can not serve on a case.
    • A potential juror's stance on the death penalty can play an important role in jury selection for capital offenses.
      By: Dani Vincek
      A potential juror's stance on the death penalty can play an important role in jury selection for capital offenses.
    • Jury pools are typically selected using public databases like voter records.
      By: Empath
      Jury pools are typically selected using public databases like voter records.