n. 1. A writ issued by a judge to a sheriff directing the summons of prospective jurors. Also called venire facias. 2. The panel of prospective jurors from which a jury is selected. [Short for Middle English venire facias, from Medieval Latin venīre (faciās), (you should cause) to come, a phrase used in the writ, from Latin; see gwā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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