Description
Learn proven techniques to get the most out of the voir dire process.Voir dire is one of the most important phases of a jury trial. However, the rules and procedures governing the jury selection process are often informal, subject to the broad discretion of the trial court, and can vary widely between jurisdictions and judges, and even different cases before the same judge. A trial lawyer’s strike decisions are some of the most important strategic decisions made in any jury trial yet, often those decisions must be made with little time for reflection and based upon vague or incomplete information. This topic will provide you with effective techniques for eliciting, organizing and intelligently using the most complete and accurate information possible through the voir dire process. Regardless of whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants, whether you are in state court or federal court, whether your case is civil or criminal, or whether you are preparing for your first jury trial or your 100th, this topic will provide practical advice for getting the most out of the voir dire process.
Date: 2019-09-30 Start Time: End Time:
Learning Objectives
The Goals of Voir Dire
• Reducing Risk Through Jury Deselection
• Building Rapport
Preparing for Jury Selection in Your Case
• Learning the Procedural Details
• Arming Yourself With Case Law
• The Pros and Cons of Supplemental Juror Questionnaires
• Internet and Public Records Research
The Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire Process
• Techniques for Identifying Bad Jurors
• Techniques for Keeping the Jurors Talking
• Techniques for Organizing the Information
The Court-Conducted Voir Dire Process
• Submitting Effective Proposed Questions
• Moving for Early Access to Juror Information and Other Process Enhancements
Challenges for Cause and Peremptory Challenges
• Techniques for Discovering Bias
• Techniques for Locking Down the Potential Jurors’ Expressions of Bias
• Techniques for the Intelligent Exercise of Peremptory Challenges
Juror Profiling: Just Tell Me Who I Want
• Demographics
• Case-Specific Attitudes
• Recap of Reducing Risk Through Jury Deselection
CLE (Please check the Detailed Credit Information page for states that have already been approved) ,Additional credit may be available upon request. Contact Lorman at 866-352-9540 for further information.
Dennis P. Stolle, J.D., Ph.D.-Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Trisha Volpe – Barnes & Thornburg LLP
