Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A preliminary examination of prospective jurors or witnesses under oath to determine their competence or suitability.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- In law. See examination on the voir dire, under examination.
Wiktionary
- n. law The preliminary phase of a jury trial in which the jurors are examined and selected.
- n. law A preliminary hearing without a jury in order to determine whether the evidence meets the test for admissibility to go to a full hearing at a criminal trial, in the legal systems of England and Wales, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
GNU Webster's 1913
- (Law) An oath administered to a witness, usually before being sworn in chief, requiring him to speak the truth, or make true answers in reference to matters inquired of, to ascertain his competency to give evidence.
Etymologies
- From Anglo-Norman, literally “to speak the truth”, from Old French voir ("true; truly") (from Latin vērus ("true")) + dire ("to say") (from Latin dīcere ("to speak; to say")). (Wiktionary)
- Anglo-Norman, to speak the truth : Latin vērus, true; + Latin dīcere, to say. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“She and Hilliard had picked them in record time for a death-qualified jury, because Judge Guthrie had presided over voir dire and permitted only the most routine questions.”
“And so, in our voir dires, for instance, you always do a voir dire that's aimed more at teaching the juries about the law and about the case than it is at weeding out people.”
“The lawyers went through the process known as voir dire in which they began selecting a jury by eliminating potential jurors they thought might be biased or unable to give a fair hearing to the facts of the case.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘voir dire’.
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JURI - courtroom speak
Legal glossary with special focus on courtroom vocabulary
accused, acquittal, ADA, adjournment, adjudication, affidavit, affirmed, aggravated range, aggravating factors, allegation, alleged, answer and 794 more...
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Law
http://www.jud.ct.gov/legalterms.htm
modus operandi, habeas corpus, extradite, extradited, injunction, voir dire, affidavit, preliminary injun..., plaintiff
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Latinate
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I am the law!
Words I learnt at law school
appeal, blackletter, contract, dictum, headnote, judgment, litigation, malfeasance, negligence, plaintiff, quantum, remedy and 216 more...
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business terms
I'm studying business law, this list will contain words I would like to implement in my language and terminology.
commingling, novation, indemnification, prospectus, quorum, commingled, agent, trustee, honorariums, fiduciary, usurp, dissolution and 94 more...
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pass the legalese, please
Mmm, scrumptious little legal jargon bits..
non compos mentis, jurisprudence, voir dire, adjudicate, unconscionable, exculpatory, tort, fiduciary
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legalese
res ipsa loquitur, quantum meruit, voir dire, de jure, de facto, persona non grata, ex turpi causa no..., volenti non fit i...
Tweets
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