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Jurywork Systematic Techniques

Chapter 1. What Is Jurywork?

§ 1:1. Introduction

§ 1:2. How do courtroom conditions affect voir dire?

§ 1:3. Jury composition: Are jury pools representative?

§ 1:4. Venue: Can a fair trial be had in the original trial jurisdiction?

§ 1:5. Using social science research approaches to understand jurors' perspectives

§ 1:6. Voir dire and jury selection

§ 1:7. Sample materials for specific types of cases

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Chapter 2. Improving Voir Dire Procedures

§ 2:1. Introduction: Why improvements are necessary

I. Factors Affecting Juror Candor

§ 2:2. Psycho-social dynamics of the courtroom

§ 2:3. The voir dire interview

§ 2:4. Jurors' opinions and attitudes

§ 2:5. --Prejudgment

§ 2:6. --Prejudicial attitudes

§ 2:7. ----Bias against criminal defendants

§ 2:8. ----Bias against plaintiffs in tort actions

§ 2:9. ----Implicit racial bias

§ 2:10. Instructions about legal rules cannot cure bias

II. Remedies

§ 2:11. Restructuring the voir dire

§ 2:12. --The role of the judge

§ 2:13. --Precedent for alternative procedures

§ 2:14. ----Individual examinations of jurors

§ 2:15. ----Questioning conducted by the attorney

§ 2:16. ----Intelligent exercise of peremptory challenges

§ 2:17. ----Jurors' self-assessment not adequate

§ 2:18. ----Questions tailored to the case

§ 2:19. Authorities for specific areas of questioning

§ 2:20. --General attitudes

§ 2:21. --Case-specific issues

§ 2:22. --Jurors' experiences and acquaintances

§ 2:23. --The "crisis" in tort litigation

§ 2:24. Removing “set aside” and “rehabilitation” from the voir dire tool box

§ 2:25. Additional peremptory challenges

§ 2:26. Procedures for exercising peremptory challenges

III. Strategies for Obtaining Improvements

§ 2:27. Form and content of motions and arguments

§ 2:28. Sample voir dire motion: Criminal case - drug conspiracy

§ 2:29. Sample voir dire motion: Civil case - Contract dispute

§ 2:30. Arguments for improved voir dire procedures

§ 2:31. Recommendations from the Federal Judicial Center

IV. Making the Best of Limitations on Voir Dire

§ 2:32. Special considerations when only the judge asks questions

§ 2:33. The 15-minute voir dire

§ 2:34. Treat voir dire as a chance to learn about the jurors

§ 2:35. Successful cause challenges require open-ended and closed-ended questioning

§ 2:36. Enlist help from the judge

§ 2:37. Keep track of time

§ 2:38. Assess individual jurors and the group as a whole

§ 2:39. Reserving jury selection issues for appeal

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Chapter 3. Questionnaires to Improve Voir Dire

§ 3:1. What are voir dire questionnaires?

§ 3:2. Voir dire questionnaires are not a substitute for voir dire or an advocacy tool

§ 3:3. When to use voir dire questionnaires

§ 3:4. Convincing the judge to use a questionnaire to improve voir dire

§ 3:5. --Sample motion to use a voir dire questionnaire

§ 3:6. --Supporting the motion

§ 3:7. --Jurisdictions where juror questionnaires have been used

§ 3:8. --Selected cases where written questionnaires have been used to supplement voir dire

§ 3:9. ----Civil cases in federal courts

§ 3:10. ----Criminal cases in federal courts

§ 3:11. ----Civil cases in state courts

§ 3:12. ----Criminal cases in state courts

§ 3:13. Don't be afraid to ask for a questionnaire: You might be pleasantly surprised

§ 3:14. Methods for using voir dire questionnaires

§ 3:15. Designing a voir dire questionnaire

§ 3:16. --Forms of questions

§ 3:17. --Formatting tips

§ 3:18. Sample basic questions

§ 3:19. --Juror background

§ 3:20. --Experiences with the courts

§ 3:21. --Relationships and attitudes towards law enforcement

§ 3:22. --Criminal justice experiences

§ 3:23. --Experiences and attitudes towards lawsuits

§ 3:24. --Questions for a case with publicity

§ 3:25. --Case description for a civil case

§ 3:26. --Hardship questions

§ 3:27. --Privacy question

§ 3:28. --Questions about parties, attorneys, witness list

§ 3:29. --The juror's signature

§ 3:30. Sample questions for commercial litigation

§ 3:31. --Business attitudes and experience

§ 3:32. --Contracts

§ 3:33. --Patents

§ 3:34. --Professional negligence

§ 3:35. Sample questions for employment litigation

§ 3:36. Sample questions employment litigation--Supervisory experience

§ 3:37. Sample questions for employment litigation--Workplace experiences

§ 3:38. --Sexual harassment

§ 3:39. --Age discrimination

§ 3:40. --Race discrimination

§ 3:41. Sample questions for personal injury cases

§ 3:42. --Products

§ 3:43. --Asbestos

§ 3:44. --Injuries, damages

§ 3:45. --Punitive damages

§ 3:46. --Psychological problems

§ 3:47. Sample questions for criminal cases

§ 3:48. --Alcohol

§ 3:49. --Capital punishment

§ 3:50. --Sexual assault

§ 3:51. Sample questions on juror’s use of internet and social media

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Chapter 4. Batson and the Discriminatory Use of Peremptory Challenges in the 21st Century

§ 4:1. Introduction

§ 4:2. Pre-Batson opinions

§ 4:3. The Batson decision

§ 4:4. Batson's legacy

§ 4:5. Appellate and post-conviction review

§ 4:6. The three steps to a successful Batson challenge

§ 4:7. Step 1: Establishing a prima facie case

§ 4:8. The struck juror must be a member of a cognizable group

§ 4:9. --Race and gender

§ 4:10. --Ethnicity and national origin

§ 4:11. --Religion

§ 4:12. --“Color,” racial sub-groups or a combination of groups

§ 4:13. --Sexual orientation

§ 4:14. --Expanding cognizable groups

§ 4:15. --Making a clear record of the juror’s group membership

§ 4:16. The strike must give rise to an inference of discrimination

§ 4:17. Speculation by the trial court is prohibited

§ 4:18. Factors courts consider

§ 4:19. --The “pattern of strikes”

§ 4:20. --The history of discriminatory conduct

§ 4:21. --A single strike

§ 4:22. --The group membership of trial participants

§ 4:23. --The number of seated members of the cognizable group

§ 4:24. --Other evidence establishing a prima facie showing

§ 4:25. Comparative juror analysis at Step 1

§ 4:26. Waiver of a strike

§ 4:27. When is Step 1 moot?

§ 4:28. Step 2: The strike proponent explains the strike

§ 4:29. The strike opponent must object on all grounds before the Step 2 ruling

§ 4:30. Explanations that may be inadequate as a matter of law

§ 4:31. --Refusal to state or inability to recall a reason

§ 4:32. --General denial of discriminatory motive

§ 4:33. --Inherently discriminatory explanations

§ 4:34. --Disproportionate impact on the cognizable group

§ 4:35. Courts’ indulgent attitude toward inherently racial reasons

§ 4:36. Step 3: The court’s ultimate determination

§ 4:37. The legal standard

§ 4:38. Legally insufficient explanations going to credibility

§ 4:39. --Explanations unrelated to the case to be tried

§ 4:40. --Explanations based on the juror’s demeanor

§ 4:41. --Cognizable group members seated or still in the venire

§ 4:42. --Accusing the strike opponent of violating Batson

§ 4:43. --False, pretextual, unsupported or post-hoc explanations

§ 4:44. --Mistake as a non-pretextual reason

§ 4:45. Comparative juror analysis for assessing credibility

§ 4:46. --The method

§ 4:47. --Judicial willingness to tolerate a “laundry list” or shotgun approach undermines the analysis

§ 4:48. --The split of authority

§ 4:49. Analyzing mixed motives at Step 3

§ 4:50. --The three approaches

§ 4:51. --Courts should reject “mixed motives” and adopt the racially tainted approach

§ 4:52. Remedies

§ 4:53. Anticipate discriminatory peremptory challenges before jury selection begins

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Chapter 5. The Law of Jury Composition Challenges

§ 5:1. Introduction

§ 5:2. Stages of the selection system

§ 5:3. Legal bases for jury challenges

§ 5:4. Legal bases for jury challenges Federal constitutional claims

§ 5:5. Legal bases for jury challenges--Federal constitutional claims--Fair cross section

§ 5:6. ----Equal protection

§ 5:7. --The Federal Jury Selection and Service Act

§ 5:8. --State constitutions and statutes

§ 5:9. Jury challenges: The applicable rules

§ 5:10. --Adequacy of the source lists

§ 5:11. ----Statutory authority for multiple lists

§ 5:12. ----Source list discrimination

§ 5:13. --Random selection

§ 5:14. ----Random selection under the federal act

§ 5:15. ----State rules requiring random selection: New Jersey as an example

§ 5:16. ----Return rate of qualification questionnaires

§ 5:17. ----Nonrandom summoning

§ 5:18. --Constitutional challenges to the qualification process

§ 5:19. --Summoning and impaneling

§ 5:20. --Proportional limitation or tokenism

§ 5:21. --Grand jury issues

§ 5:22. ----impanelment

§ 5:23. ----Selection of the foreperson

§ 5:24. Proof of a prima facie case

§ 5:25. --Cognizable groups

§ 5:26. --Significant underrepresentation

§ 5:27. ----Composition of the community

§ 5:28. ----Composition of the jury pool

§ 5:29. ----Standards for measurement and evaluation of disparities

§ 5:30. ------Absolute disparity

§ 5:31. ------Comparative disparity

§ 5:32. ------Proportion of the eligibles

§ 5:33. ------Statistical significance test

§ 5:34. ------Substantial impact

§ 5:35. Rebuttal

§ 5:36. Practice and procedure

§ 5:37. --Timeliness

§ 5:38. --Standing to challenge

§ 5:39. --Affirmative civil suits

§ 5:40. How courts and jury administrators can avoid challenges

§ 5:41. --Challenger's entitlement to discovery

§ 5:42. --Disclosure obligations of courts and jury systems

§ 5:43. --The burden of information production

§ 5:44. --Jury system transparency

§ 5:45. ----Data collection

§ 5:46. ----Data reporting

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Chapter 6. Preparing and Conducting a Jury Challenge

§ 6:1. Introduction

§ 6:2. Preliminary study

§ 6:3. The motion

§ 6:4. The right to discovery in federal courts

§ 6:5. The right to discovery in state courts

§ 6:6. What should a discovery motion cover?

§ 6:7. Performing a composition study: Arranging experts and logistical concerns

§ 6:8. Performing a composition study: Designing and setting limits on the study

§ 6:9. Performing a composition study: Sources of pool composition data

§ 6:10. Performing a composition study: Studying the qualification process

§ 6:11. The court hearing

§ 6:12. Azania challenge described: A defense expert summarizes his analysis of the pool’s unrepresentativeness

§ 6:13. Sample materials from Azania v. State of Indiana--Table of contents: Petitioner’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law

§ 6:14. --Systematic underrepresentation of jurors from Wayne Township: Affidavit of Professor Joseph B. Kadane

§ 6:15. --Chart: Allen County Indiana population, age 18+

§ 6:16. --Chart: Allen County African-American population, age 18+

§ 6:17. --Charts: Wayne Township jury pool representation

§ 6:18. --Chart: Allen County registered voters by township

§ 6:19. --Chart: Allen County juror limit problem

§ 6:20. --Chart: Truncation error problem

§ 6:21. --Chart: Systematic underrepresentation of Commissioner District

§ 6:22. --Amended petition for post-conviction relief

§ 6:23. Sample materials from federal petit jury challenge (W.D. Texas, 1978): Affidavit of local attorney in support of discovery motions

§ 6:24. Materials from federal petit jury challenge (W.D. Texas, 1978): Motion to dismiss and for discovery concerning jury selection pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1867(f)

§ 6:25. Materials from federal grand jury challenge (N.D. Georgia, 1980): State of facts in support of a request for a hearing

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Chapter 7. Change of Venue

§ 7:1. Introduction

§ 7:2. The decision to move for venue change

§ 7:3. Federal constitutional standard

§ 7:4. The Impact of Skilling

§ 7:5. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure—Rule 21(a)

§ 7:6. Grounds of prejudice

§ 7:7. --Publicity

§ 7:8. --Community attitudes

§ 7:9. Remedies and the right to choice of venue

§ 7:10. Timing of the motion

§ 7:11. Realistic goals of the motion to change venue

§ 7:12. The hearing on a motion to change venue

§ 7:13. When the judge wants to "try to pick a jury"

§ 7:14. If the motion is denied seek alternative relief

§ 7:15. Venue and voir dire

§ 7:16. Creating a record of actual juror bias

§ 7:17. Interlocutory appeals

§ 7:18. Civil actions

§ 7:19. Sample declaration in support of motion to change venue

§ 7:20. Sample declaration--Qualifications

§ 7:21. --Introduction

§ 7:22. --Media analysis

§ 7:23. --Survey results

§ 7:24. --Remedies

§ 7:25. --Conclusion

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Chapter 8. Gathering Data for Pretrial Motions on Juror Bias

§ 8:1. Introduction

§ 8:2. Content analysis of media coverage

§ 8:3. --Presentation

§ 8:4. --Procedures

§ 8:5. Community witnesses

§ 8:6. --Presentation

§ 8:7. --Collecting community witness statements

§ 8:8. --Sample affidavit

§ 8:9. Analysis of litigants' economic role in the trial jurisdiction

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Chapter 9. Tools for Discouraging Juror Internet Use

§ 9:1. Juror Internet use: an increasing problem

§ 9:2. Judicial response

§ 9:3. Sources of the problem

§ 9:4. Best practices to reduce juror Internet misconduct

§ 9:5. Voir dire questions to reveal and reduce juror Internet use

§ 9:6. Expand judge’s instructions on Internet use

§ 9:7. Use a juror responsibilities pledge

§ 9:8. Recommended instructions on electronic media

§ 9:9. Sample judicial instructions: New Jersey, Arizona and Oregon

§ 9:10. --New Jersey jury instruction on social media

§ 9:11. --Arizona model jury instruction on social media

§ 9:12. --Multnomah County, Oregon jury instruction on media

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Chapter 10. Community Opinion Surveys: A Powerful Research Tool for Litigators

§ 10:1. Community surveys: A major tool of social research

§ 10:2. Using opinion surveys to assess venue or support a change of venue motion

§ 10:3. Using opinion surveys in planning for voir dire and jury selection

§ 10:4. Using opinion surveys to improve case presentation

§ 10:5. Logistical issues in designing and conducting a community opinion survey

§ 10:6. Data analysis and presentation

§ 10:7. Sample questionnaire excerpts

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Chapter 11. Pretrial Mock Jury Research: Mock Trials and Focus Groups

PART I. USES OF PRETRIAL MOCK JURY RESEARCH

Introduction

§ 11:1. Highlight non-lawyers' responses to the case

§ 11:2. Create the narrative story of the case

§ 11:3. Uncover moral, psychological, and emotional issues

§ 11:4. Identify areas and approaches for discovery

§ 11:5. Inform jury selection strategies

§ 11:6. Prepare for settlement conferences

§ 11:7. Limitations of mock jury research

§ 11:8. Sample case: How mock trial research changed trial approach in a contract dispute

PART II. MOCK JURY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

§ 11:9. Assure demographic balance and confidentiality

§ 11:10. Define the research goals

§ 11:11. Choose the research format

§ 11:12. The presentations must be balanced

§ 11:13. Focus on content, not form

§ 11:14. Emphasize clarity

§ 11:15. Effective presentation of testimony

§ 11:16. Conducting mock jury research without consultants: There are drawbacks

§ 11:17. Moderator’s opening remarks set the tone

Part III. Mock Jury Research Materials

Introduction

§ 11:18. Research materials

§ 11:19. Mock juror recruitment questionnaire and specifications

§ 11:20. Mock juror confidentiality agreement

§ 11:21. Re-screen jurors at the beginning of the research

§ 11:22. Questionnaires exploring mock jurors’ backgrounds and attitudes

§ 11:23. Moderator’s introduction and overview

§ 11:24. Case specific reaction questionnaires

§ 11:25. Jury instructions and verdict form

Appendices 

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Chapter 12. The Summary Jury Trial

§ 12:1. What is a summary jury trial?

§ 12:2. Summary jury trial procedures

§ 12:3. Where are summary jury trials in use?

§ 12:4. Appropriate cases for summary jury trials

§ 12:5. Pros and cons of summary jury trials--Settlement rates

§ 12:6. --Objections to jurors' role in summary jury trials

§ 12:7. --Is the summary jury trial verdict a good predictor of trial outcome?

§ 12:8. --Are summary jury trial decisions based on "theatrics?"

§ 12:9. How do summary jury trials impact subsequent proceedings?

§ 12:10. Case example: Summary jury trial in a toxic tort case

§ 12:11. --Preparing for the summary jury trial

§ 12:12. --Conducting the summary jury trial

§ 12:13. --Jury deliberations

§ 12:14. --Interviews with the jurors

§ 12:15. --Settlement

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Chapter 13. Post-Trial Interviews with Jurors

Introduction

§ 13:1. Why conduct post-trial interviews?

§ 13:2. --Evaluate key witnesses

§ 13:3. --Test effectiveness of case themes

§ 13:4. --Understand trends in similar cases

§ 13:5. --Challenge a verdict

§ 13:6. --Protect a verdict

§ 13:7. ----Sample interview protocol

§ 13:8. ----Sample juror declaration

§ 13:9. When and how to conduct post-trial interviews

§ 13:10. --Jurors' willingness to participate

§ 13:11. --Assistance from the judge

§ 13:12. --Making an appointment

§ 13:13. --Format of the interview

§ 13:14. Who should conduct a post-trial interview?

§ 13:15. Structure of the interview

§ 13:16. Legal restrictions on post-trial interviewing

§ 13:17. --Searching for juror misconduct vs. focusing on attorney education

§ 13:18. --Federal district court rules restricting or prohibiting post-trial juror interviews

§ 13:19. --The Catch-22 of rules prohibiting post-trial contact with jurors

§ 13:20. --Jurors' right to freedom of speech

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Chapter 14. Trial Presentation Graphics

§ 14:1. Two rules for using graphics in the courtroom

§ 14:2. Using graphics in the courtroom: How mediators, judges and jurors benefit from the use of visual aids

§ 14:3. Design principles 101

§ 14:4. Graphical elements: Background, color, text and images

§ 14:5. Timeline

§ 14:6. Organization chart

§ 14:7. Flowchart

§ 14:8. Illustrations

§ 14:9. Statistical graphics

§ 14:10. How to display demonstratives

§ 14:11. Finding the right designer

§ 14:12. Getting the most out of the trial graphics vendor

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Chapter 15. Witness Preparation

§ 15:1. Introduction: Why preparation is necessary

§ 15:2. First impressions in the courtroom

§ 15:3. --People rely on stereotypes to categorize other people

§ 15:4. --Identify stereotypes jurors might apply to the witness

§ 15:5. What counts in impression formation?

§ 15:6. --Physical appearance

§ 15:7. ----What to wear in court

§ 15:8. --Behavior

§ 15:9. ----What makes witness testimony believable?

§ 15:10. ----Non-verbal cues used to detect lying

§ 15:11. ----Credibility is in the eye of the beholder

§ 15:12. --Defensiveness

§ 15:13. ----Common cues to defensiveness

§ 15:14. --Visual dominance

§ 15:15. --Posture

§ 15:16. --The use of language and voice

§ 15:17. ----Powerful and powerless speech

§ 15:18. ----Persuasive speech

§ 15:19. --Competence

§ 15:20. Preparing to prepare a witness

§ 15:21. --Talking to witnesses about witness preparation

§ 15:22. --Witness fears about preparation

§ 15:23. --Introducing yourself to the witness

§ 15:24. Witness preparation begins with an interview

§ 15:25. --Establish rapport

§ 15:26. --Observe and assess the witness

§ 15:27. ----How does the witness process information?

§ 15:28. ----What emotional tone does the witness bring to the interview?

§ 15:29. ----Be aware of anxieties and fears

§ 15:30. ----The arrogant witness

§ 15:31. --Content of the witness preparation interview

§ 15:32. ----Common anxiety-producing thoughts

§ 15:33. ----Common negative thinking patterns

§ 15:34. --Ask the witness to role play the cross examiner

§ 15:35. Witness preparation techniques

§ 15:36. --Empowering the witness

§ 15:37. --Preparing for direct examination

§ 15:38. ----Evaluating the witness

§ 15:39. ----Giving feedback to the witness

§ 15:40. ----Shaping effective witness testimony

§ 15:41. --Preparing for cross-examination

§ 15:42. --Using a trial consultant

§ 15:43. ----Protecting confidentiality

§ 15:44. --How long does it take to prepare a witness?

§ 15:45. --Final words for the witness

§ 15:46. Special circumstances: Child witnesses

§ 15:47. --Similar to and different than adults

§ 15:48. Goals of child witness preparation

§ 15:49. Preparing for court

§ 15:50. Special circumstances: Child witnesses--Preparing for court--Preparing for direct examination

§ 15:51. ----Preparing for cross examination

§ 15:52. Reducing potential for harm to the child

§ 15:53. Final words on child witnesses

§ 15:54. Special circumstances: non-English speaking witnesses

§ 15:55. Non-English speaking witnesses--Juror biases

§ 15:56. Preparing the non-English speaking witness

§ 15:57. Final thoughts on translated testimony

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Chapter 16. Modern Jury Trial Practices: Tools to Enhance Juror Comprehension

§ 16:1. From innovations to best practices

§ 16:2. --The need for improved jury trial practices

§ 16:3. ----How jurors learn

§ 16:4. --Trial participants' views of trial complexity

§ 16:5. --Juror comprehension aids have been adopted across the nation

§ 16:6. --National Program to Increase Citizen Participation in Jury Service

§ 16:7. Evaluation research in the courts

§ 16:8. --Massachusetts tests 16 innovations

§ 16:9. --Los Angeles County tests six innovations

§ 16:10. --Tennessee tests 13 innovations

§ 16:11. --Ohio tests 13 jury innovations

§ 16:12. --New York tests 10 jury practices

§ 16:13. --Seventh Federal circuit tests seven concepts

§ 16:14. --Court research on specific practices

§ 16:15. ----Wyoming looks at juror comprehension of instructions

§ 16:16. ----New Jersey and Colorado examine allowing jurors to submit questions for witnesses

§ 16:17. ----Juror questions in civil cases in New Jersey

§ 16:18. ----Juror questions in criminal trials in Colorado

§ 16:19. Mini-openings--Research findings

§ 16:20. --Implementation and authority

§ 16:21. Juror note-taking--Research findings addressing practitioners' concerns

§ 16:22. --Implementation and authority

§ 16:23. Notebooks for jurors--Implementation and authority

§ 16:24. Allowing jurors to submit questions to witnesses--Research findings addressing practitioners' concerns

§ 16:25. --Implementation and authority

§ 16:26. --Frequently asked questions

§ 16:27. Aiding juror comprehension of the law

§ 16:28. --Substantive preliminary instructions

§ 16:29. --Oral instructions both before and after closing arguments

§ 16:30. --Providing deliberating jury with final instructions in writing

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Chapter 17. Conducting Voir Dire

§ 17:1. Voir dire techniques

§ 17:2. --Eliciting bias

§ 17:3. --Structuring the questions

§ 17:4. --Encouraging juror candor

§ 17:5. Avoid giving mixed messages to jurors

§ 17:6. Clarify what it means to be “fair” in voir dire

§ 17:7. Steps to navigating the truth vs. duty trap

§ 17:8. Jurors learn what is expected from what they see and hear in voir dire

§ 17:9. Laying the groundwork for successful cause challenges

§ 17:10. --A general approach

§ 17:11. --Controlling the atmosphere

§ 17:12. --Developing a cause challenge requires both open-ended and closed-ended questioning

§ 17:13. --Arguing for cause

§ 17:14. Areas of questioning

§ 17:15. --Setting the stage

§ 17:16. --Juror background questions

§ 17:17. ----Occupation

§ 17:18. ----Children

§ 17:19. ----Neighborhood

§ 17:20. ----Education

§ 17:21. ----Military experience or connections

§ 17:22. ----Religion

§ 17:23. ----Spare time activities

§ 17:24. ----Previous jury experience

§ 17:25. --Questions about exposure to pretrial media coverage

§ 17:26. --Questions about racial attitudes

§ 17:27. --Questions about racial prejudice--Racism and racial prejudice

§ 17:28. ----Interracial contacts and social distance

§ 17:29. ----Language and cultural differences

§ 17:30. --Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim sentiment

§ 17:31. ----Components of Anti-Arab/Anti-Muslim prejudice

§ 17:32. ----Tools to help Identify Prejudice

§ 17:33. ------Types of prejudice

§ 17:34. ------Punitiveness

§ 17:35. ------Immigration

§ 17:36. ------Social distance

§ 17:37. ------Questions about prejudice

§ 17:38. ------The Anti-Muslim prejudice scale

§ 17:39. ----Trial preparation note

§ 17:40. --Questions about sexual orientation

§ 17:41. ----AIDS/HIV

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Chapter 18. Selecting a Jury

§ 18:1. Introduction

§ 18:2. Plan a jury selection strategy

§ 18:3. --Analyze case presentations

§ 18:4. --Identify potential juror biases

§ 18:5. ----Use "juror profiles" with caution

§ 18:6. ----Consider the impact of jurors' attitudes, beliefs, and values

§ 18:7. ----Consider jurors' personality traits

§ 18:8. ----Include jurors' formative prior experiences

§ 18:9. --Available data about jury panelists

§ 18:10. ----Public records search

§ 18:11. ----Internet and social media research

§ 18:12. ------Practical Considerations

§ 18:13. ------Ethical Considerations

§ 18:14. ----Responses to voir dire questionnaires

§ 18:15. ----Responses to voir dire questions

§ 18:16. ----Observations of panelists' behavior

§ 18:17. --Voir dire procedures

§ 18:18. ----Clarify the judge's voir dire practices

§ 18:19. ----Motions to improve voir dire procedures

§ 18:20. ----Voir dire procedures checklist

§ 18:21. --Organizing the jury selection process

§ 18:22. ----Use a team approach

§ 18:23. ----Allocate responsibilities within the team

§ 18:24. --Practice voir dire

§ 18:25. Use in-court time and effort efficiently

§ 18:26. --Use voir dire to get information, not give speeches

§ 18:27. --Observe jurors' dress and demeanor

§ 18:28. --Process and evaluate the juror questionnaire responses

§ 18:29. Evaluating jurors' biases

§ 18:30. --Use the data gathered by your team

§ 18:31. --Consider alternative juries, and jury-room dynamics

§ 18:32. Exercise challenges strategically

§ 18:33. Use rating systems to compare individual jurors to the group

§ 18:34. The authoritarian personality: A helpful concept for juror evaluation

§ 18:35. --Authoritarianism and criminal trials

§ 18:36. --Authoritarianism and civil trials

§ 18:37. --Identifying authoritarian attitudes in the courtroom

§ 18:38. Nonverbal behavior can reveal personality characteristics or attitudes

§ 18:39. --Interpreting nonverbal behavior

§ 18:40. --Observing nonverbal behavior

§ 18:41. Take group dynamics into account in evaluating jurors

§ 18:42. --Leaders

§ 18:43. --Followers

§ 18:44. --Fillers

§ 18:45. --Negotiators

§ 18:46. --Holdouts

§ 18:47. --Subgroups

§ 18:48. A sample juror evaluation

§ 18:49. A sample jury selection in a criminal case

§ 18:50. --Jury selection strategy

§ 18:51. --The prospective jurors: Day 1

§ 18:52. --The prospective jurors: Day 2

§ 18:53. --The outcome

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Chapter 19. Personal Injury Litigation

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Chapter 20. Commercial Litigation

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Chapter 21. Civil Rights, Discrimination, and Employment Litigation

Introduction

§ 21:1. Juror biases and stereotypes in civil rights and discrimination cases

§ 21:2. --Improving voir dire procedures - particularly important in civil rights and discrimination cases

§ 21:3. --A practical approach to voir dire in discrimination cases

§ 21:4. ----A "less is more" approach to questioning

§ 21:5. ----What is discrimination?

§ 21:6. ----Negative answers to voir dire questions present an opportunity

§ 21:7. ----Preparation makes a difference

§ 21:8. ----Jurors who say "I don't really know the details"

§ 21:9. ----Explore the impact of jurors' experiences

§ 21:10. ----Avoid stereotyping jurors

§ 21:11. Race issues in jury trials

§ 21:12. --The impact of racial attitudes

§ 21:13. --Benefits of using juror questionnaires

§ 21:14. --Voir dire about race issues

§ 21:15. --Voir dire about race discrimination

§ 21:16. Voir dire in employment discrimination cases

§ 21:17. --Answering jurors' questions

§ 21:18. --Attitudes toward supervisors and managers

§ 21:19. --Discrimination in employment and hiring

§ 21:20. --Damages for employment discrimination

§ 21:21. Sex discrimination

§ 21:22. --Sexual harassment

§ 21:23. ----Voir dire questions

§ 21:24. ----Written juror questionnaire

§ 21:25. ----Sample plaintiff's motion to improve voir dire in a sexual harassment case

§ 21:26. Disability discrimination: Juror attitudes and voir dire questions

§ 21:27. Age discrimination: Juror attitudes and voir dire questions

§ 21:28. Improved voir dire procedures in an employment discrimination class action

§ 21:29. --Voir dire questionnaire for screening jurors in an employment discrimination class action

§ 21:30. Sample voir dire: Age discrimination and anti-Semitism

§ 21:31. --Background questions

§ 21:32. --Voir dire questions to explore attitudes and experiences

§ 21:33. Police misconduct

§ 21:34. Police misconduct voir dire questions: Associations, contacts, ideas about police

§ 21:35. Police misconduct--Sample voir dire: Wrongful death

§ 21:36. ----Juror background

§ 21:37. --Police brutality and policy accountability

§ 21:38. --Sample voir dire: Wrongful death--Racial bias

§ 21:39. ----Civil lawsuits, injury, and damages

§ 21:40. ----Ability to apply and follow the law

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Chapter 22. Criminal Defense: Practice Tools

§ 22:1. Introduction

§ 22:2. Voir dire checklist

§ 22:3. Juror attitudes toward crime and criminal justice: Voir dire questions

§ 22:4. --Personal experience with crime

§ 22:5. --The crime problem generally

§ 22:6. --The criminal justice system and crime

§ 22:7. --Views about defendant's legal protections

§ 22:8. Sample voir dire questionnaires

§ 22:9. --Sample questionnaire: Savings and loan fraud

§ 22:10. --Sample questionnaire: Self-defense case

§ 22:11. Sample papers: Improving voir dire procedures in a child sex abuse case

§ 22:12. --Motion and memorandum in support of motion for written juror questionnaire

§ 22:13. --Sample juror questionnaire: Child sex abuse case

§ 22:14. Sample questions for criminal case questionnaires or voir dire

§ 22:15. --Contact with courts and crime

§ 22:16. --Attitudes about crime and violence

§ 22:17. --Involvement with children

§ 22:18. --Teenagers

§ 22:19. --Religion

§ 22:20. Special issues in gun cases

§ 22:21. --Voir dire questionnaire for a gun case

§ 22:22. --Voir dire questions for a gun case

§ 22:23. Jurors' experiences with drugs

§ 22:24. Juror views about informants and undercover agents

§ 22:25. --Voir dire questionnaire covering informants

§ 22:26. --Voir dire questions on informants

§ 22:27. Cultural differences

§ 22:28. Insanity defense and exposure to mental health professionals

§ 22:29. Domestic violence cases

§ 22:30. --Analysis of issues in a sample domestic violence case

§ 22:31. --Juror attitudes: Voir dire areas for domestic violence cases

§ 22:32. --Personal experience with domestic violence

§ 22:33. --Media or other exposure to domestic violence

§ 22:34. --Attitudes toward domestic violence victims

§ 22:35. --Assumptions about self-defense

§ 22:36. --Ability to follow the law of self-defense

§ 22:37. --Lifestyle issues

§ 22:38. --Psychological complexity and personal responsibility

§ 22:39. DUI cases: Driving under the influence

§ 22:40. --Juror background characteristics relevant to DUI cases

§ 22:41. ----Related training or education

§ 22:42. ----Spare time activities

§ 22:43. ----Military experience

§ 22:44. ----Law enforcement associations

§ 22:45. --DUI: A general voir dire

§ 22:46. --Exploring jurors' driving experiences in a group voir dire

§ 22:47. --Contact with law enforcement while driving

§ 22:48. --Law enforcement credibility

§ 22:49. --Traffic accidents

§ 22:50. --Alcohol and DUIs

§ 22:51. ----Alcohol cause challenge questions

§ 22:52. ----Intoxilyzers, blood alcohol tests, and field coordination tests

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Chapter 23. Death-Qualifying Voir Dire: Understanding It, Challenging It, Improving It

PART I. DEATH PENALTY VOIR DIRE IS UNIQUE

§ 23:1. Overview

§ 23:2. The death qualifying voir dire

§ 23:3. Pretrial motions

PART II. PRETRIAL MOTIONS AND TACTICS

§ 23:4. Motions to limit death-qualification

§ 23:5. Racial impact of death qualification

§ 23:6. Challenging use of peremptory challenges to exclude death-scrupled jurors

§ 23:7. Improving voir dire procedures

§ 23:8. Other voir dire issues to address in pretrial motions

PART III. VOIR DIRE STRATEGIES

§ 23:9. Conducting voir dire in death penalty cases

§ 23:10. --Death-qualification and death penalty attitudes

§ 23:11. --Questioning death penalty supporters

§ 23:12. ----Preserving the record

§ 23:13. --Questioning death penalty opponents

§ 23:14. --Questions for a voir dire questionnaire in a death penalty case

§ 23:15. --Questioning designed to understand the death penalty attitudes of death qualified jurors

§ 23:16. --Challenging for cause strong death penalty supporters

§ 23:17. The Colorado method

§ 23:18. --Start by rating jurors’ death penalty attitudes

§ 23:19. --Assuring that jurors treat each other with respect

§ 23:20. --Questions about the charges and the defense

§ 23:21. --Ask the judge to explain there is no presumption of guilt

§ 23:22. --“Strip Away” extraneous assumptions and irrelevant facts

§ 23:23. --Questioning strategy

§ 23:24. ----Re-stripping the prospective juror

§ 23:25. ----Questioning to challenge

§ 23:26. ----Questioning to defend against government challenge

§ 23:27. ----Teaching jurors how to leave jury room with a life verdict

PART IV. BACKGROUND: LEGAL HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEACH

§ 23:28. Witherspoon v. Illinois and Wainwright v. Witt

§ 23:29. Marshaling evidence to challenge death-qualification: Background

§ 23:30. Early studies demonstrating conviction-proneness

§ 23:31. Empirical studies of death-qualified subjects

§ 23:32. Hovey v. Superior Court: A state supreme court confronts the problem of bias

§ 23:33. --The studies: Endorsement of their validity

§ 23:34. --The Hovey remedy: Sequestered voir dire during death-qualification

§ 23:35. Lockhart v. McCree

§ 23:36. --Critique of the court's evaluation of social science data

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