Why can jury selection take weeks in high-profile cases?

In high-profile cases, jury selection can extend for several weeks due to the elaborate screening process known as voir dire.1

During this phase, trial counsel and judges conduct extensive questioning of prospective jurors to detect potential bias or preconceived notions regarding the case. Because the American legal tradition places significant importance on jury selection strategies, attorneys utilize this time to carefully evaluate the venire—the panel of prospective jurors—to ensure a fair trial.21

The process is prolonged by the legal right of counsel to challenge potential jurors in two ways:
* Challenges for cause: Attorneys may dismiss an unlimited number of jurors if there is a specific, demonstrated likelihood of bias.12
* Peremptory challenges: Attorneys may dismiss a limited number of jurors without providing a specific reason.12

In cases that have received significant public attention, the difficulty of finding impartial jurors who have not already formed an opinion necessitates a more rigorous and time-consuming examination.12