Jury Panels

The law is filled with unfamiliar terms, or with terms which may sound familiar but which are used in unfamiliar ways.  For example, in cases where the parties have demanded a jury trial, the jury is often referred to as “the panel.”  While most people are familiar with the term “panel” as it refers to other groups of people (for example, a “panel of experts,” etc.), it seems that “panel” as it refers to jurors comes from another source. 

According to Blackstone, a jury panel refers to the shape of the parchment which contained the names of the jurors and which the sheriff attached to the writ (or summons) which he returned to court.   Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England in Four Books, vol. 2, p. 353 [1753]  (“For now the course is, to make the sheriff’s venire returnable on the last return of the same term wherein issue is joined, viz., Hilary or Trinity Terms; which, from the making up of the issues therein, are usually called issuable terms. And he returns the names of the jurors in a panel (a little pane, or oblong piece of parchment) annexed to the writ.”) 

Of course, jurors are selected a little differently now, and the papers used in court – if paper is used at all in these days of electronic filings – are generally 8.5” x 11” instead of little panes of parchment.

But many principles of jury trials remain the same, and for most cases you still have the right to demand a trial by a jury of your peers.  If you have case that you want to present to a jury, or if you have been sued and you want a jury to hear your defenses, please give me a call and I will be happy to talk with you about your case at no charge.