What Are the 4 Principles That Jurors Have to Know ?

In People v. Zehr, 103 Ill. 2d 472, 477, 469 N.E.2d 1062, 1064, 83 Ill. Dec. 128 (1984), our supreme court held essential to the qualification of a jury in a criminal case is each juror's knowledge of the following four principles: (1) a defendant is presumed innocent; (2) he is not required to present evidence on his own behalf; (3) the State must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (4) his decision not to testify may not be held against him. The subject matter of these principles should be addressed in the course of voir dire as a juror's prejudice as to any of them would not be automatically cured with closing remarks by counsel or jury instructions from the trial court. Zehr, 103 Ill. 2d at 477, 469 N.E.2d at 1064.