Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Sanhedrin/Chapter 3/1

משנה_סנהדרין_ג_א

Introduction
Sanhedrin deals primarily with the court and with court cases. The third chapter of Sanhedrin is focused on witnesses and court proceedings.

The first mishnah of this chapter deals with choosing judges (similar to modern voir dire) and witnesses for a case.

Hebrew Text

 * דיני ממונות, בשלשה.
 * זה בורר לו אחד וזה בורר לו אחד, ושניהן בוררין להן עוד אחד, דברי רבי מאיר.
 * וחכמים אומרים, שני הדינים בוררין להן עוד אחד.
 * זה פוסל דינו של זה וזה פוסל דינו של זה, דברי רבי מאיר.
 * וחכמים אומרים, אימתי, בזמן שמביא עליהן ראיה שהן קרובין או פסולין, אבל אם היו כשרים או ממחין, אינו יכול לפסלן.
 * זה פוסל עדיו של זה וזה פוסל עדיו של זה, דברי רבי מאיר.
 * וחכמים אומרים, אימתי, בזמן שהוא מביא עליהם ראיה שהן קרובים או פסולים.
 * אבל אם היו כשרים, אינו יכול לפסלן.

English Translation
 Monetary suits (are ruled) with three (judges). One (litigant) chooses one and the other chooses one, and both of them choose the other one, these are the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say, the two judges choose the other one. One (litigant) invalidates the judge of the other, and the other invalidates the judge of the one, these are the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say, when? Only if evidence is brought that they [the judges chosen] are related (to the litigant) or otherwise forbidden. But if they are acceptable, or an expert from the court, they cannot be invalidated. One (litigant) invalidates the witness of the other, and the other invalidates the witness of the one, these are the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say, when? Only if evidence is brought that they are related (to the litigant) or otherwise forbidden, but if they are acceptable, they cannot be invalidated. 

Explanation
This is a short explanation of the voir dire and jury selection process for cases requiring three judges. Rabbi Meir explains that each litigant can choose a judge and together they choose a third. The sages, however, state that the third judge is chosen by the other two. After this, a process of invalidation (voir dire) is explained, without an explanation of what makes a judge or witness "otherwise forbidden," which is explained later in this chapter.