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18 Jury Expert 1 (2006)

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Knowing When and How to Indoctrinate


By Alan Tuerkheimer, M.A., J.D.


It's time for voir dire, but is anybody listening? Are jurors listening to attorneys? Are attorneys
listening to jurors? More often than not the answer is no. Regardless of case type or jurisdiction,
jurors are checking out. Their attention spans are flat-lining during a crucial phase of trial - voir dire.

At a critical time when jurors need to be particularly focused and engaged, they are losing focus
and disengaging. Why is this happening? The reasons are varied and the problem is serious.

Sometimes, jurors are put off by an attorney's combative style or demeanor. Other times jurors are
confused by awkwardly worded questions they do not understand, or by attorneys who seem more
concerned with their next question than with listening to jurors as they respond to the question
at hand.

Ironically, it is during voir dire that attorneys have their best chance to bond with the panel. Even
if the jury selection is effective, it is during these early stages of voir dire that first impressions are
being formed by jurors, and there will never be another opportunity to do just that.

Compounding the problem is that most attorneys say voir dire is their least favorite part of the
trial process. Courtroom lawyers thrive on the adversarial nature of trials and have learned how
to be effective advocates. However, achieving success during jury selection requires a somewhat
different approach. Attorneys need to play by a completely different set of rules if they are going
to conduct a successful voir dire. Combative, aggressive or argumentative questions will not help


          6
Stories Breathe Life
      Into Law:
 Discover how the art of
 storytelling can reveal the
 truth to jurors, not just the
 facts.


         8
 Quick Courtroom
        Tips:
A reminder that you can
Raise Emotion by Speaking
Lower.


         9
    3ury News:
Jury Selection: Is There an
Anti-Education Bias?


         10
The Summary 3ury
Trial: A Tool for
Discovering 3uror
    Reactions
Learn how a summary jury
trial can save you time and
money without sacrificing the
integrity of a real courtroom
jury trial.


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