"Jury selection is strictly an emotional process. They're looking for people they can manipulate. Both sides are"

In this quote, Joseph Wambaugh suggests that the jury choice procedure is mainly driven by emotional factors to consider rather than objective qualifications or factual assessments. Wambaugh's assertion is provocative, challenging the common perception of jury choice as a systematic and objective procedure aimed at discovering unbiased individuals to fairly examine legal procedures.

The expression "strictly a psychological procedure" implies that decisions about who is selected to be on a jury are influenced more by sensations, impulses, and subjective judgments than by clear-cut, logical criteria. This perspective points to a scenario where prospective jurors are evaluated based upon intangible qualities such as likability, empathy, or viewed vulnerability to persuasion, instead of on their ability to seriously evaluate evidence and use the law impartially.

Even more, Wambaugh's declaration "They're searching for people they can control" highlights a belief that both defense and prosecution groups deliberately look for jurors who might be swayed by their arguments or rhetoric. This implies a technique where lawyers intentionally choose people they believe can be affected emotionally to prefer one side's story over the other.

The concluding piece, "Both sides are", enhances the idea that this practice is not unique to one celebration associated with a legal case, but rather a typical method used by all parties involved. This shared pursuit to possibly influence juries mean a competitive environment where the selection process becomes a tactical battle rather than a mission for justice.

Through this lens, Wambaugh critiques the adversarial nature of legal systems where controling psychological reactions is seen as a genuine, if not needed, tactic for acquiring advantage. Eventually, the quote proposes a much deeper reflection on whether the jury system, as generally practiced, efficiently serves its function of impartiality and fairness when psychological manipulation is viewed as a core element of the selection procedure.