"Venires" is a legal term that refers to a group of individuals summoned to serve on a jury. Its spelling may cause confusion due to the pronunciation of the three syllables. The first syllable is pronounced as "vee" (/viː/), followed by "nye" (/naɪ/) and "rez" (/rɛz/). The emphasis is on the second syllable, which can be tricky to remember. Understanding the proper spelling and pronunciation of "venires" is essential for those involved in the legal system.
Venires is a legal term that stems from Latin, specifically from the Latin phrase "Venire Facias" which translates to "cause or command to come." It refers to a group of individuals selected from the community to form a jury panel in a court of law. More specifically, venires refers to the document issued by a court, often called a venireman's ticket or panel, which summons a group of potential jurors to appear before the court for jury duty.
The purpose of selecting a venires is to ensure a fair and impartial trial by having a diverse group of individuals from the community decide the facts of a case. The venires may be randomly selected from various sources such as voter registration lists, driver's license lists, or public records. Once summoned, the individuals on the venires are required by law to appear at the specified date, time, and location to participate in the jury selection process.
During the jury selection process, also known as voir dire, potential jurors are questioned by the judge and attorneys to determine their suitability for serving on the jury. The size of the venires depends on the jurisdiction, but typically ranges from about 12 to 24 individuals. From the venires, the pool of potential jurors is narrowed down through a process of challenges made by the parties involved in the case, until a final jury is selected to hear and decide the matter at hand.
Overall, venires is a term used in the legal field to refer to the group of individuals summoned for jury service, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in the judicial process.
The word "venires" has its roots in the Latin language. In Latin, the verb "venire" means "to come". The word "venires" is the plural form of "venire", and it specifically refers to the group of potential jurors who are summoned to court.
The term "venire" in legal contexts dates back to English common law, where it denoted a writ or proclamation issued to summon individuals to serve on a jury. Over time, it became customary to use the plural form "venires" to refer to the individuals summoned.
The word "venires" is still used today in legal terminology in some English-speaking jurisdictions to refer to prospective jurors who are called for jury duty.