Similar experience here. In the last few months I was in the selection pool for a domestic abuse case. The judge asked if anyone had personal experience with do

Similar experience here. In the last few months I was in the selection pool for a domestic abuse case. The judge asked if anyone had personal experience with domestic abuse and then asked each juror who raised their hand if they wanted to discuss it in private. Some gave a brief version of their story in the courtroom, usually it was their parents while they were growing up. Some preferred privacy, which the judge said they'd come back to later. The jury selection was completed without ever calling those people in for private explanations. No one who had raised their hand for that question was selected. As far as impartiality goes, I certainly felt some bias against the accused just based on the nature of the crime and his courtroom demeanor. But I was resolved that I would keep that in mind if I was selected and treat him as fairly as possible despite that. Impartiality is the ideal, and you usually have to make the effort to make it happen. In some circumstances where you have personal experience with similar crimes, that may be too much to ask.