What is a peremptory challenge?

• A. A request to strike a potential juror without reason, subject to limits.
• B. A request to strike a juror for cause due to bias.
• C. A requirement to disclose a bias before juror is accepted.
• D. A request to extend jury deliberation time.

Answer: (D)

A peremptory challenge lets a party strike a potential juror from serving on the case without having to provide a reason. This tool helps shape the jury by removing jurors who might be favorable to the opposite side, but there are limits to prevent abuse. Importantly, peremptory challenges cannot be used to discriminate against jurors based on protected characteristics like race or gender, a constraint established by Batson v. Kentucky and similar rulings. They are part of the voir dire process, distinct from challenges for cause, which require showing a juror cannot be impartial. Extending jury deliberation time is unrelated to juror selection and not a tool used for choosing jurors.