Tag Archives: cause challenge
GOODBYE, PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES: GOOD RIDDANCE TO JUDGES’ FAVORITE CRUTCH
By Rich Matthews “Well, Counsel, that’s why the Good Lord gave you a few peremptory challenges.” – An actual judge at sidebar, denying a righteous cause challenge In August, the Arizona Supreme Court eliminated peremptory challenges in jury selection for … Continue reading
5 Mistakes Just About All Trial Attorneys Make in Jury Selection (yep, maybe you, too)
Five mistakes widely made by trial counsel in jury selection . . . probably including you. Continue reading
Supplemental Juror Questionnaires, Part 3: Oh, The Data You’ll Know
The Questions Themselves: Part Social Science, Part Strategy Often, questionnaires written by lawyers are… well… Look, a lawyer attempting social science based only on intuitive commonsense is like watching social scientists try to practice law with only intuitive commonsense. Which … Continue reading
Supplemental Juror Questionnaires, Part 2: This Time, It’s Quizzical
I invite you to read the previous post, “Supplemental Juror Questionnaires, Part 1” before reading this. Or not. Your call. – Rich The SJQ Introduction: Include a Welcome, Some Thanks, And Always Use Normal Human English So by way of … Continue reading
Supplemental Juror Questionnaires, Part 1
“Everything we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. The Importance of Juror Questionnaires Earlier this week, I came into possession of a supplemental juror questionnaire that is a thing … Continue reading
Voir Dire: Where the Mind Meets the Mouth
Job Number One of any lawyer conducting voir dire is lowering the barriers to communication. What are the barriers that jurors might have to opening up to you? Being in an unfamiliar building and room, but more powerfully, being in … Continue reading
More On Jury Selection (Don’t Read That Aloud Too Quickly—Sounds Insulting)
I found a couple more notes from the jury pick I mentioned in the May 5 post. The big themes: in jury selection, keep your language simple and clear, and keep your questions open. When Lawyers Talk Like Lawyers, It … Continue reading
Juryology: Art & Science of Jury Persuasion 