What is the process of developing a jury through a preliminary examination by a judge or counsel called?

The term for the process of developing a jury through a preliminary examination by a judge or counsel is referred to as voir dire. This procedure is incredibly important in the legal system because it allows attorneys to question potential jurors to determine their suitability for serving on a jury for a particular case. During voir dire, various factors are assessed, including biases, personal beliefs, and prior knowledge about the case that might affect a juror's impartiality. This process helps ensure that the selected jurors can provide a fair and unbiased judgment based on the evidence presented during the trial.

The options related to selection process, jury assignment, and trial commencement do not specifically describe the examination phase of jurors before trial. The selection process typically refers to the broader procedure of choosing jurors from a pool, while jury assignment could denote the official assigning of jurors to specific cases. Trial commencement refers to the beginning of the trial itself after the jury has been selected. Thus, the specific and critical nature of voir dire in ensuring a fair trial is what makes it the correct answer to the question posed.