In jury trials, the parties are generally entitled to strike any prospective juror for cause, such as some relation to the defendant, or already-formed opinions about guilt. Do you feel that this process protects the integrity of the trial process in coming to a just verdict, or is it possible that the side with the most able and talented attorney is able to manipulate the jury composition in such a manner as to slant the jury one way or another before the trial even starts? Why or why not?
State laws and state court rulings may provide additional rights to people of the state and to criminal defendants within that state, beyond those extended by the Constitution. In your group decide if you agree or disagree with additional rights beyond the Constitution being granted to people within a state. What do you see as the issues associated with people being treated differently within a criminal justice system based on which state they are in? What is the rationale behind your decision?