Understanding the Word "Impanel"
When you walk into a courtroom, you might notice a group of citizens sitting in a specific section, waiting to fulfill their civic duty. These individuals are part of a legal process where the court must impanel a jury to hear a case. While this word sounds formal and distinctly legal, understanding it helps clarify how the justice system functions. In this article, we will break down what it means to impanel, how to use it correctly, and why it remains a vital term in legal English.
Definitions and Meanings
The word impanel (sometimes spelled empanel) is a verb that refers specifically to the administrative process of selecting a jury. It has two primary, sequential meanings:
- To enter names into a list: This involves placing the names of potential jurors onto an official list or "panel" from which the final jury will be chosen.
- To select and swear in: This describes the final act of choosing the actual group of people who will serve as jurors for a specific trial.
Usage and Grammar Patterns
Because impanel is a transitive verb, it almost always requires an object—usually "a jury." It is primarily used in formal or legal contexts, such as news reports about high-profile trials or official court documents.
Here are a few examples of how to use it in a sentence:
- The judge decided to impanel a new jury after the previous one was unable to reach a verdict.
- It took nearly three days for the attorneys to impanel a group that satisfied both the prosecution and the defense.
- The court clerk began to impanel the citizens who had been summoned for duty that morning.
Note that the word is often used in the passive voice, especially when describing the general timeline of a trial:
- A grand jury was impanelled to investigate the corruption allegations against the city officials. (Note: The spelling with double 'l' is more common in British English, while American English often prefers a single 'l'.)
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake learners make is confusing impanel with simply "hiring" or "gathering" a group of people. Remember that this word is specific to the legal system. You would not use it to describe selecting a committee for a school project or picking a team for a sports game. If you are not talking about a courtroom setting, you should use more general words like "assemble," "select," or "form."
Another point of confusion is the spelling. While both impanel and empanel are considered correct, impanel is more frequently used in American English, while empanel is quite common in British English. Consistency is key—pick one and stick with it throughout your writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "impanel" only used for juries?
Yes, in modern English, impanel is almost exclusively reserved for the context of selecting a jury. Using it for any other type of group selection will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Can I use "impanel" to describe the jurors themselves?
No, the verb applies to the court or the judge who performs the action. You would not say "the jurors impaneled themselves." Instead, you would say "The judge impaneled the jury."
Is "impaneling" the only way to write the present participle?
If you use the spelling impanel (with one 'l'), the participle is impaneling. If you use the spelling impannel (less common) or if you are following British conventions for empanelling (with two 'l's), be aware of the regional spelling preferences.
Conclusion
Although impanel is a niche word restricted to the world of law, it is essential for anyone interested in crime dramas, legal journalism, or civic studies. By remembering that it refers specifically to the formal process of swearing in a jury, you can use the word with confidence. The next time you watch a movie or read a news article about a court trial, listen closely—you are likely to hear someone speak about the judge's effort to impanel a fair and impartial jury.