new favourite law word

Law has lots of funny words.

So, when I read this one in tremeear's today (that's an annotated criminal code for the uninitiated) I laughed (it's Monday, things which might not be funny on Tuesday are funny on Mondays) and decided to share:

EMPANELED

It simply means "to swear in a jury to try an issue or case" (ie "you must do this before the jury is empaneled"). Makes me think of ugly wood paneling and some guy with his butt crack showing saying "yeah, I think we can get this room empaneled in about 3 or 4 hours." In my mind I can see a a jury just being slathered up to the wall of a courtroom with wallpaper paste with the accused looking on curiously. Gotta find a way to make it into everyday use.