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Definition of peremptory challenge
: a challenge (as of a juror) made as of right without assigning any cause
Examples of peremptory challenge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Throughout the voir dire process, prosecutors and defense attorneys have 20 peremptory challenges, meaning each side can dismiss up to 20 potential jurists without providing a reason for doing so.
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Jean Casarez, CNN, "A woman writing a novel about 'predatory older men' has been seated on the Harvey Weinstein jury," 18 Jan. 2020 Aidala used up the defense’s 20th and last peremptory challenge by 11 a.m., meaning the team could no longer cut people without providing justification.
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Washington Post, "12 jurors picked to hear sex-assault charges against Harvey Weinstein," 17 Jan. 2020 At issue are peremptory challenges, which lawyers can use to dismiss a limited number of prospective jurors without having to state a reason.
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Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Calif. Supreme Court wants panel to tackle racial discrimination in jury selection," 29 Jan. 2020 Weinstein’s lawyers had run out of peremptory challenges (i.e., jurors who are stricken at the discretion of the two legal teams, rather than for cause) by the time the juror in question was examined.
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Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "Making Sense of the Harvey Weinstein Verdict," 24 Feb. 2020 The California Supreme Court outlawed intentional racial discrimination in peremptory challenges in 1978, and the U.S. Supreme Court issued a similar ruling for courts nationwide in 1986.
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Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Calif. Supreme Court wants panel to tackle racial discrimination in jury selection," 29 Jan. 2020 Jurors were excused from the courtroom and Burke denied the defense's request to grant them an additional peremptory challenge.
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Jean Casarez, CNN, "A woman writing a novel about 'predatory older men' has been seated on the Harvey Weinstein jury," 18 Jan. 2020 The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Greenville, asks U.S. District Judge Debra Brown to permanently order Evans and his assistants to stop using peremptory challenges to remove African American jurors because of their race.
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CBS News, "Lawsuit seeks to prevent prosecutor from keeping blacks off juries," 19 Nov. 2019 Normally each side would have one peremptory challenge.
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Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jury selection begins in Navy SEAL war crimes trial," 17 June 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peremptory challenge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for peremptory challenge
The first known use of peremptory challenge was in 1530
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