voir dire

Meaning

Noun

• The preliminary phase of a jury trial in which the jurors are examined and selected.
• A preliminary hearing without a jury in order to determine whether the evidence meets the test for admissibility to go to a full hearing at a criminal trial, in the legal systems of England and Wales, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Origin

• From Anglo-Norman, literally “to speak the truth”, from Old French voir (from Latin vērus) + dire (from Latin dīcere).