In legal terms, being impartial means an individual or entity, particularly a judge or juror, has no bias or prejudice regarding the case, parties, or the outcome. Impartiality is a cornerstone of justice, ensuring that decisions are made solely based on facts, evidence, and the application of law, without any undue influence from personal feelings, opinions, or external pressures.
For example, if a judge is presiding over a case involving a corporation where they own stock or have familial connections to a party in the litigation, they would be required to recuse themselves to maintain impartiality. Similarly, during jury selection in a criminal trial, potential jurors are often asked about their backgrounds, beliefs, and any potential connections to the case or people involved. If a potential juror has a preconceived opinion about the guilt or innocence of the defendant, or if there’s any interest that could affect their judgment, they would be considered partial and thus ineligible to serve on the jury in the interest of a fair trial.