What is jury sequestration?

• A. The act of issuing a restraining order.
• B. Isolating jurors during deliberations to avoid external influence.
• C. The process of selecting jurors through random sampling.
• D. A civil remedy.

Answer: (B)

Jury sequestration means isolating jurors from outside contact during the trial, especially while they are deliberating, to prevent outside influence from media, conversations, or public opinion. This protection helps ensure the verdict rests only on the evidence presented in court rather than external factors. Sequestration might involve housing jurors away from the courtroom, restricting access to news, and limiting contact with others, particularly when there’s intense publicity or a strong risk of bias.

This isn’t about issuing a restraining order, which is a protective measure to keep someone away for safety reasons. It’s not the process of selecting jurors, which is handled through voir dire and random sampling. It’s not a civil remedy either, which refers to a legal relief sought in civil cases. Sequestration specifically preserves the integrity of the deliberation by shielding jurors from external influences.