In jury selection, what is one primary purpose of using preemptory challenges?

One primary purpose of using peremptory challenges in jury selection is to create a fair and impartial jury. Peremptory challenges allow attorneys to remove potential jurors without stating a reason, which helps parties eliminate jurors they believe may be biased or unfavorable to their case. This tool provides lawyers with the flexibility to shape the jury composition in a way that promotes fairness and objectivity in the trial process.

By utilizing peremptory challenges, attorneys can influence the jury pool to better reflect an unbiased representation, ultimately contributing to a more balanced and just trial outcome. The ability to dismiss certain jurors without cause recognizes that the subjective judgment of attorneys about potential jurors' backgrounds or attitudes can play a critical role in achieving impartiality.

While the other options may touch upon aspects of jury selection, they do not encompass the specific function of peremptory challenges in fostering impartiality. For instance, selecting jurors that uphold the law or limiting the number of jurors are not direct objectives of peremptory challenges, and while expediting the jury selection process might be a side effect, it is not the primary purpose of using these challenges.