Jury Selection: Winning Before Opening Statements

Today's Venire; Voir Dire; Attitudes and Biases; Juror Questionnaires; Social Media

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A

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Conducted on Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Recorded event now available

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Course Materials

This CLE course will provide trial attorneys with a unique perspective on using the jury strike process to not only ensure the best possible jury but to form relationships with jurors and establish themes for trial. The panel will educate counsel on resources and tools which can be used to build the right environment for victory.

Description

Every trial lawyer knows that having the right jury is essential. Despite that, counsel may spend very little time identifying what that means and how to maximize the chances of empaneling the best jury for the case.

Finding and developing a theme or themes of a case is a prerequisite to identifying the best jurors. In that sense, the jury selection process begins with the first client meeting and runs continuously through the start of voir dire. During that time, counsel should consider the general composition of the jury pool and how to best express those themes to specific types in the pool.

The selection process is the time to seat the best jury and begin weaving the themes that will follow through the closing argument. Being equipped with the specific information provided by the court through questionnaire responses and by supporting research such as social media, voir dire can be used hone in on juror attitudes towards the themes in the case.

Listen as this panel of trial attorneys and jury experts explores tactics and considerations beyond the simple ones employed at many trials. The panel will provide useful sample questions and sources of information and will identify mistakes trial lawyers make during the selection process.

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Outline

  1. Early-case jury selection issues
    1. General information about the venire
    2. Early theme considerations
    3. Attitudes and biases
  2. Preparation for voir dire
    1. Jury questionnaires
    2. Social media and other research
  3. Execution of voir dire
    1. Judge's questions
    2. Counsel's questions
    3. How to act
    4. Strike strategies

Benefits

The panel will review these and other essential matters:

  • What to expect in a current venire panel
  • Planning for voir dire
  • Ascertaining juror attitudes and biases
  • Developing juror questionnaires
  • Using social media in jury selection

Faculty

Camp, Murray
Murray W. Camp
Shareholder
Caldwell Bennett Thomas Toraason and Camp

Mr. Camp understands and appreciates the immense responsibility that comes with representing clients in estate, trust,...  |  Read More

McDonald, Emily
Emily McDonald, Ph.D.
Litigation Consultant
Bloom Strategic Consulting

Dr. McDonald uses social science to identify the factors that effect and influence juror decision-making in the...  |  Read More

Toraason, Sarah
Sarah V. Toraason
Shareholder and Chief Executive Officer
Caldwell Bennett Thomas Toraason and Camp

Ms. Toraason has ten years’ experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes involving securities,...  |  Read More

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