Court Reporter Practice Exam

What does "polling of the jury" involve?

1. A verbal explanation of the verdict

2. A formal question to each juror about the verdict

3. A review of jury notes

4. A discussion among jurors

The correct answer is: A formal question to each juror about the verdict

Polling of the jury involves formally asking each juror individually about their agreement with the verdict that has been reached. This process serves multiple purposes: it ensures that each juror feels comfortable and confident in the verdict, it confirms that the decision was unanimous (if required), and it provides a check against any potential coercion or misunderstanding among jurors. By doing this, the court can verify that the verdict is indeed representative of the collective opinion of all jurors rather than one or two possibly dissenting voices. Polling is a critical step as it upholds the integrity of the jury's decision-making process and affirms the rule of law in court proceedings. Other options, while related to the jury process, do not specifically capture the essence of polling as it focuses solely on individual juror confirmation of the verdict.