Challenges for Cause.

The trial court may exclude for cause any prospective juror who is not statutorily qualified or who otherwise will be unable to render an impartial verdict. In most circuits, the trial court's determination of removal for cause will be reversed only for clear error. Jurors are required by statute to be (1) U.S. citizens; (2) at least eighteen-years-old; (3) residents of the judicial district where the trial is held for at least one year; (4) able to read, write, understand, and speak English; (5) mentally and physically capable of performing jury service; and (6) free from criminal conviction of, or pending charges for, an offense punishable by more than one year in prison. The trial court need not excuse a juror for cause if the juror indicates an ability to set aside an opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence.

An appellate court may consider a juror's deliberate concealment of information during voir dire to be evidence of bias and grant a new trial. Appellate courts may also reverse convictions when a juror's mistaken response to a material voir dire question prevented the trial court from discovering actual bias.