Voir Dire Workshop: Day 1

Registration and Welcome Networking Breakfast

Welcome Remarks and Introductions

Voir Dire Goals and Pitfalls

• What you should never expect from voir dire
• Drafting effective questions
• The dangers in overselling your case in voir dire

Building Your Team and Your Rapport

• Getting your panel engaged
• Developing rapport
• Identifying potential group dynamics, early

Morning Break

Identifying Voir Dire Issues – Including by Use of Focus Groups of All Kinds

• The “usual” suspects (burden of proof, non-economic damages, etc.)
• The “surprise” issues and how to identify them

Social Media, Online Search Tools, and Questionnaire Methods Research

• Learn what types of big data are out there and which can be most impactful to your trial
• Use public and social data to spot potential conflicts of interest, or other issues, in your jury pane

Dealing with “Scary” Issues in Voir Dire

• Race, gender, immigration status, and other potentially explosive issues
• Case-specific issues that keep you up at night

The Hard Work of Planning for Voir Dire

• Preparing your questions with the goals in mind
• Protecting your honest jurors against “rehabilitation”
• Drafting effective questions

Making Your Record During Voir Dire

• Presenting your record for strikes for cause effectively
• Tools for using your peremptory strikes
• Special considerations, including Batson challenges

Active Listening During Voir Dire

Acting Techniques for Better Voir Dire Training Techniques: Voice Tone and Physical Presence

Calling Balls and Strikes—What Really Makes a Strike for Cause (Judicial Panel)