How to win your case through jury selection Tips

Transcript:How to win your case through jury selection Tips:
How to win your case through jury selection Tips and suggestions for picking the best jury Introduction Each potential juror imports biases, prejudices, fixed through patterns and firmly held beliefs. Jurors begin to form opinions about you, your case, and your client immediately. Such opinions can have an impact on your entire case regardless of the strength of their evidence. The earlier an attorney prepares for the juror selection process the better their chances will be at selecting a beneficial jury. The following tips will help guide attorneys in the process of choosing a jury Begin pre-trial preparation as early as possible Juror Research First Impression Tailored Voire Dire Getting the most out of voir dire Challenging damaging jurors Begin pre-trial preparation as early as possible Time constraints during voir dire. Conduct research before juror selection begins Including deciding who the ideal juror would be and who could be potentially damaging. Then begin to research the specific potential juror pool and jurisdiction where the case will be tried. Be mindful that each jurisdiction’s jury duty schedule and list vary. Juror research Once a copy of potential juror list is obtained, there are several points of research that you should conduct It is extremely beneficial to learn the demographics and potential views of the juror pool. Voter registration list can be helpful. They will reveal: The name of the municipality Ward District Party affiliation Voter The street address of the voter. Juror Research In addition, research each town affiliated with your jurisdiction This will help identify the socioeconomic demographics of the potential jurors. This will also help you determine how you will try the case. You should be mindful of the venue’s demographics to determine which types of potential juror leaders may exist. Once jurors are selected this research can and should continue in order to gain a more precise understanding of the jurors views and predict their biases. First Impression First impressions are crucial. Always keep in mind the demographic you are addressing and adapt accordingly. Be aware of your: Tone/Characteristics Attire Your client’s overall appearance First impression Tone/Characteristics: In order to connect and appeal to potential jurors, adapt the way you convey the case, the way you communicate with the potential jurors, and the level of sophistication used to communicate the subject matter. At the same time, exert a certain degree of expertise to instill confidence. Be aware of