Walls v. Kim

Johnson, Presiding Judge.

In our judicial system, the only purpose for voir dire is to assure that jurors are impartial — that they are able to consider the case solely on its merits without any bias or prior inclination.1 A party in a civil case therefore has good cause to challenge a juror who has expressed either an opinion that the opposing party ought to prevail or a desire that the other party will succeed.2 Upon such a challenge, the trial court must consider the evidence and then exercise its significant discretion to retain or dismiss the juror.3

In too many cases, trial courts…