Outspoken Jurors: A Love/Hate Relationship
Have you ever had juror responses like these? “I can tell just by looking at him that your client is guilty.” “All corporations are evil.” “I think all personal injury lawyers are money hungry ambulance chasers.” Ouch! Not exactly the answer you were hoping for, was it? Sometimes answers like these are a juror’s honest feelings about your case. Others times, the responses are calculated to get them kicked out of jury duty. Regardless of the reason why they’re saying it, one thing...
Read MoreIt’s all YOUR fault!
It was one my earliest cases as a newbie prosecutor. It was a D.U.I., so I knew it would be a one day trial. We’d picked the jury that morning and had already presented our opening statements, so we were returning after lunch to start testimony in the case.. During the lunch break, I was meeting with my arresting officer to discuss his afternoon testimony. “One of the important things you need to remember,” I told him, “is that the judge has suppressed any references to the Horizontal Gaze...
Read MoreAre You Involving Your Jurors During Direct Examination?
It’s no secret that jurors’ minds can wander. Just poke your head into any courtroom shortly after lunch and you’ll see jurors mentally “checking out” and letting their brains wander away from the courthouse. The important question we need to ask is, “How do we keep their minds inside the courtroom?” One solution is to get your jurors more involved in the case. When jurors are actively engaged in your case, it’s impossible for their minds to wander away. One...
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