Wainwright v. Witt

a case resulting in a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court decision that increased the prosecution’s ability to exclude jurors from death-qualified juries. According to this decision, excluded jurors need not be completely opposed to the death penalty: Any doubts they have over the morality of the death penalty may justify their exclusion. This decision therefore altered the criteria for acceptance from those earlier established in Witherspoon v. Illinois (see Witherspoon excludables).

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

February 11th 2025

balance

1. n. a harmonious relationship or equilibrium of opposing forces or contrasting elements. See autonomic balance; balance theory; homeostasis.

2. n. the sense of equilibrium mediated by the vestibular system of the inner ear.

3. vb. to adjust forces to maintain something at a level from which it would ordinarily deviate.