blue-ribbon jury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyFormal, legal
Quick answer
What does “blue-ribbon jury” mean?
A special jury selected from individuals with high qualifications, education, or professional status, often used for complex or important cases.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A special jury selected from individuals with high qualifications, education, or professional status, often used for complex or important cases.
A panel of jurors chosen for their expertise, intelligence, or social standing, typically convened for trials involving complicated technical, financial, or scientific matters where ordinary jurors might lack necessary background knowledge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American legal contexts; British equivalent terms include 'special jury' or 'jury de medietate linguae' though usage is now rare. The concept exists in UK law but the specific phrase is American.
Connotations
In both systems, implies selection based on superior qualifications rather than random selection from voter rolls.
Frequency
Rare in modern UK legal discourse; occasionally appears in American legal texts and historical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “blue-ribbon jury” in a Sentence
The judge ordered [a blue-ribbon jury] for the complex patent case.They selected [blue-ribbon jury members] from professional associations.The defense requested [a blue-ribbon jury] due to technical evidence.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue-ribbon jury” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court may blue-ribbon a jury for exceptionally complex fraud cases.
- They decided to blue-ribbon the panel due to scientific evidence.
American English
- The judge blue-ribboned the jury for the antitrust trial.
- Prosecutors sought to blue-ribbon the jury selection process.
adverb
British English
- The jurors were selected blue-ribbon style from professional registers.
- They approached jury selection rather blue-ribbon, focusing on educational background.
American English
- The court proceeded blue-ribbon in choosing experts for the panel.
- They handled the selection process very blue-ribbon compared to normal procedure.
adjective
British English
- The blue-ribbon jury panel included three professors and two engineers.
- A blue-ribbon jury trial was authorised for the sensitive diplomatic case.
American English
- The blue-ribbon jury selection process took three weeks.
- They assembled a blue-ribbon jury for the pharmaceutical liability suit.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of corporate litigation involving technical matters.
Academic
Appears in legal history papers, jurisprudence studies, and comparative law texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific to legal professionals, court administrators, and judicial scholars discussing jury selection methods.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue-ribbon jury”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue-ribbon jury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue-ribbon jury”
- Using 'blue-ribbon' as adjective for any qualified group (overextension).
- Confusing with 'grand jury' (different function).
- Misspelling as 'blue ribbon jury' without hyphen (acceptable variation but less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Their use has declined significantly due to legal challenges regarding equal protection and representative jury principles. Some jurisdictions still allow them for specific complex cases, but they're increasingly rare.
Historically used for complex patent cases, sophisticated financial crimes, technical engineering disputes, medical malpractice suits with intricate evidence, and occasionally high-profile political corruption trials.
Instead of random selection from voter or driver registration lists, potential jurors might be drawn from professional organisation rosters, university faculty lists, or through nomination based on qualifications.
Yes, extended to 'blue-ribbon committee' or 'blue-ribbon panel' for special investigative committees, though in strict legal terminology it remains most associated with jury selection.
A special jury selected from individuals with high qualifications, education, or professional status, often used for complex or important cases.
Blue-ribbon jury is usually formal, legal in register.
Blue-ribbon jury: in British English it is pronounced /bluː ˈrɪb.ən ˈdʒʊə.ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /bluː ˈrɪb.ən ˈdʒʊr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “blue-ribbon treatment (extended metaphorical use)”
- “first-prize panel (contextual parallel)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'blue ribbon' award for best in show at a competition; a 'blue-ribbon jury' is like the 'best in show' jury selected for important cases.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS HIGH STATUS/ELITE SELECTION (borrowed from competition/prize metaphor)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic distinguishing a blue-ribbon jury from a regular jury?