struck jury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Historical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “struck jury” mean?
A jury that has been selected by both parties striking names from a larger list until the required number of jurors remains.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A jury that has been selected by both parties striking names from a larger list until the required number of jurors remains.
A method of jury selection, primarily historical, where each side alternates in eliminating potential jurors from a larger panel. The term can also refer to the final jury selected through this process. It is now largely replaced by other selection methods.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily historical and was used in both jurisdictions. In modern contexts, it is more likely to be encountered in historical accounts of English common law or in specific, older statutes in some U.S. states. The concept is virtually identical, rooted in shared legal tradition.
Connotations
Implies an older, more formal, and sometimes more deliberate jury selection process. May carry a slightly archaic or technical nuance.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both modern British and American English, appearing almost exclusively in legal history texts, historical court documents, or discussions of archaic legal procedures.
Grammar
How to Use “struck jury” in a Sentence
The court ordered [a struck jury].The defence requested [selection by struck jury].[A struck jury] was empanelled for the case.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “struck jury” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The counsels strove to strike an impartial jury from the panel.
American English
- The lawyers struck a jury from the list of forty-eight veniremen.
adjective
British English
- The struck-jury procedure was outlined in the assize records.
American English
- They followed a struck-jury selection method as per the old statute.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical or legal academic writing to describe an old method of jury selection.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in legal history, historical legal proceedings, and in some jurisdictions that may still reference the procedure in statute.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “struck jury”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “struck jury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “struck jury”
- Confusing it with a 'hung jury' (one that cannot reach a verdict).
- Using it to describe a jury that is surprised ('struck' by evidence).
- Thinking it is a jury in a labour strike case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a largely historical procedure. Modern jury selection uses methods like random selection from voter rolls and voir dire questioning, though some jurisdictions may retain residual provisions for it in specific circumstances.
Voir dire is the modern process of questioning potential jurors to uncover biases. A struck jury was a specific *method* within selection, where a larger list was presented and names were 'struck' (removed) alternately by the parties until the jury was complete. They are different concepts, though both relate to jury formation.
No. It comes from the legal verb 'to strike' meaning to remove or cross out. It refers to striking names from a list.
No. It is a very low-frequency, specialised legal/historical term. Learners should be aware of its existence but do not need to actively learn it for general communication.
A jury that has been selected by both parties striking names from a larger list until the required number of jurors remains.
Struck jury is usually formal, technical, historical, legal in register.
Struck jury: in British English it is pronounced /strʌk ˈdʒʊəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /strʌk ˈdʒʊri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'striking' names OFF a list, not striking someone. It's a jury formed by a process of elimination.
Conceptual Metaphor
Jury selection as a sculpting or refining process (striking away excess material to reveal the final form).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'struck jury'?