TexasCHLforum.com

seamusTX wrote:This is a non-issue. In most counties, you will be in a room with 50 or so strangers who will not remember your name or anything else that you say. What could they do with any personal information?

I don't live in most counties. Last time I was called, I ran out of fingers counting other potential jurors I had gone to school with, worked with, or whose daughters I had failed to get home on time at some point over the years.

Fortunately, the defendant pled guilty before the defense attorney got a good look at the jury pool - he would've had the same problem.

troglodyte wrote:In the two cases I have sat on the judges made a statement to the effect that if you didn't feel it was prudent to answer in front of everyone that you may ask to approach the bench. I feel that would be a reasonable request even if not offered outright. Nobody approached the bench in either case I was on.

It becomes problematic on a yes-or-no question, though. Would anybody other than a CHL approach the bench in the OP's situation?

ELB wrote:Not answering any voir-dire question truthfully can lead to serious trouble. Aside from the possibility of mistrial if you are found out, you swore to tell the truth, and if you do not you can be prosecuted.

Isn't there some process for jury selection questions that aren't appropriate to answer in front of everybody? I can think of several things that an attorney would effectively alienate potential jurors by forcing them to answer in the presence of the entire jury pool, but which could be very relevant to a case.