Civil Procedure Multistate Bar Practice Exam

Which type of challenge during jury selection has no limit on the number of challenges?

1. Peremptory challenges

2. Challenges for cause

3. Automatic challenges

4. Voluntary challenges

The correct answer is: Challenges for cause

Challenges for cause are a type of challenge during jury selection that has no limit on the number of challenges that can be made. These challenges are used to remove jurors who are deemed unfit or biased in some way, affecting their ability to be impartial. For example, if it can be demonstrated that a juror has a preconceived notion about the case or a close relationship with a party involved, a party can request that the juror be dismissed for cause. The absence of a limit on challenges for cause allows attorneys to ensure that the jury is fair and impartial, accommodating as many legitimate concerns as necessary. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the trial process, ensuring that each juror selected can perform their duties without bias. Peremptory challenges, in contrast, are limited in number, meaning that while parties can dismiss jurors without needing to state a reason, they are restricted to a certain number of such dismissals. Automatic and voluntary challenges are not recognized categories in this context, which makes them nonapplicable to this question. Therefore, the assertion that challenges for cause have no limit on their number stands as the correct characterization of these types of challenges during jury selection.