Voir Dire Strategy
Voir dire presents a golden opportunity to communicate with the venire before trial. Unfortunately, many attorneys approach the voir dire phase of trial with faulty assumptions, poor preparation or ineffective execution.
After I discuss overall case strategy and tactics with the attorney, juror profiles and questions for effective selection and de-selection of prospective jurors are systematically developed. Based upon scores of mock juror research projects and in-court experience with hundreds of jurors, I help the attorney create supplemental written juror questionnaires and voir dire questions that are tailored to fit the case.
I have developed an extremely effective methodology of communication skills unique to the struck system (Donahue approach). This powerful method has helped many attorneys win before trial.
Jury Selection
In court, I become part of the trial team in tracking the voir dire process and rating prospective jurors. I provide input that will be helpful in generating cause challenges, exposing juror biases, and consolidating the venire to support case theory and themes. Prioritization of peremptory strikes often presents a critical chess game that the trial team must win. Many cases boil down to the vote of a single juror. It is vitally import that the attorney understand how each juror's experiences, biases and leadership abilities can potentially impact the outcome of a case.
Alan J. Cohen, Ph.D. LLC
Jury Insights
Web-Jury Research
ANTICIPATING THE JURY'S RESPONSE TO YOUR CASE
