Jury

A jury is selected by a process known as voir dire.

History
Jury service was traditionaly restricted to white males and there is a long history of discrimination against jury service by women and minorities.


 * Until four years after World War II ended, juries were limited to qualified men only. See § 40.01(1), Florida Statutes (1941). In 1949, the flat prohibition was modified to allow women to serve, but only if they registered with the clerk of the circuit court expressly for that purpose. See Ch. 25126, Laws of Fla. In other words, unlike male jurors, it took a positive and affirmative act on the part of a woman to be able to serve on a jury in Florida.


 * In 1967, the registration requirement was eliminated and a provision allowing expectant mothers and women with children under 18 to avoid service was substituted. See Ch. 67-154, Laws of Fla. In 1975, the age of the children allowing avoidance was lowered to 15. See Ch. 75-78, Laws of Fla. It was not until four years later, however, that all sex based distinctions in jury service in Florida were finally repealed. See Ch. 79-235, Laws of Fla.


 * Laidler v. State, Case::627 So.2d 1263, 1264 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).