Jury Selection Handbook

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Jury Selection HandbookThe Nuts and Bolts of Effective

Jury Selection

Ronald H. ClarkDistinguished Practitioner In Residence

Seattle University School of Law

Thomas M. O’ToolePresident, Sound Jury Consulting

A Lawyering Series CoursebookPublished in Collaboration with

Northeastern University School of Law

Carolina Academic PressDurham, North Carolina

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Copyright © 2018Carolina Academic Press, LLC

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Clark, Ronald H., author. | O'Toole, Thomas M., author.Title: Jury selection handbook : the nuts and bolts of effective jury selection/ Ronald H. Clark and Thomas M. O'Toole.

Description: Durham, North Carolina : Carolina Academic Press, LLC, [2017] |Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017046266 | ISBN 9781531007973 (alk. paper)Subjects: LCSH: Jury selection--United States. | Jury--United States.Classification: LCC KF8979 .C53 2017 | DDC 347.73/752--dc23LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017046266

e-ISBN 978-1-53100-798-0

Carolina Academic Press, LLC700 Kent Street

Durham, North Carolina 27701Telephone (919) 489-7486

Fax (919) 493-5668www.cap-press.com

Printed in the United States of America

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This book and we are dedicated:

To my family, Nancy, Brady, Soojin, Malachi, Riley,Clancy, Kara, Beatrice, Samuel,

Colby, and Darren

Ronald H. Clark

To my family, my lovely wife Jodie, my parents, andmy phenomenal colleagues Jill, Scott, Joe, and “Missourah.”

Thomas M. O’Toole

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Contents

About the Series xixAcknowledgments xxiAbout the Authors xxiii

Chapter 1 · Introduction to Book & Online Supplement 3A. Jury Selection — A Challenge and an Opportunity 3B. Jury Selection Book 5

1. Examples — The Next Best Thing 52. Book Overview 6

C. Jury Selection Online Supplement 7

Chapter 2 · Overview: The Selection Process 9A. The Selection Process 9B. Jury Pool Selection 10

1. Summoned to Serve 102. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses 11a. Federal Court 11b. State Court 13

3. Lawful Requirements for the Jury Pool 144. Americans with Disabilities Act 145. Number in the Jury Pool 156. Jury Pool Orientation 16

C. Jury Panel Selection 161. Number in the Jury Panel 172. Jury List 173. Seating the Panel 17

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D. Number of Jurors for Trial 181. The Jury 18a. Federal Court 18b. State Court 18

2. Alternate Jurors 19a. Federal Court 19b. State Court 20

E. The Public Trial and a Criminal Defendant’s Right to Be Present 201. Right to a Public Trial 212. Right to Be Present 23

F. Swearing in the Panel 24G. Judge’s Introductory Remarks 24H. Questioning the Jurors 27

1. Judicial Discretion and Its Limits 272. Questioning by Judge, Attorneys, or Both 28a. Judge Only Questioning 28b. Attorney-Only Questioning 29c. Shared Questioning 29

3. General Questions from the Bench 30a. Hardship Questions 30b. Other General Questions 31

4. Questioning by the Lawyers 33a. Preliminary Remarks 33b. Time Allotted 34c. Your Placement in the Courtroom 34d. Questioning Process 35

I. Accepting the Panel 36J. Rules of Professional Conduct and Jury Selection 36

1. Rules for Jury Impartiality 372. Rules Regarding Trial Publicity 38

Chapter 3 · Challenges 41A. Challenges to Prospective Jurors 41

1. Three Types of Challenges 412. Have a Record 42

B. Challenges for Cause 421. Statutory Qualifications 432. Bias and the Impartial Jury 433. Actual Bias 43

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4. Implied Bias 45a. Federal Court 45b. State Court 46

5. Exercising Challenges for Cause 476. Challenging Attorney — Strategies and Techniques 48a. Deciding to Challenge for Cause 48b. In or Outside the Panel’s Presence 48c. Defendant’s Right to Be Present 49d. Making a Record for the Challenge: Three-Concession Method 49e. Reversing the Bias 52f. Challenge Denied 52

7. Responding Attorney — Strategies and Techniques 53a. To Join or Not to Join 53b. Rehabilitation of the Challenged Juror 53c. Coaxed Rehabilitation Disfavored 54

8. Challenging Based on Responses in a Juror Questionnaire 569. Ruling on a Challenge for Cause 59a. Standard on Appeal 59b. The Equivocating Juror 59

C. Death Penalty Qualification and Challenges for Cause 591. Prosecutor Challenges for Cause 602. Defense Challenges for Cause 603. Guiding Principles 61

D. Peremptory Challenges 611. Number of Peremptory Challenges 62a. History and Controversy 62b. Federal Courts 63c. State Courts 63

2. In Front of the Jury Panel or Not 643. Procedure for Exercising Peremptory Challenges 65a. Jury-Box Method 65b. The Struck Method 66

4. Strategically Exercising Peremptory Challenges 68a. Don’t Run Out of Peremptories 68b. Wait and See 69c. Juror Placement in the Panel 69d. The Importance of Assessing Leadership Potential 70

5. Batson and Its Offspring 72a. Cognizable Groups 73

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b. Other Groups — Religion, National Origin and Economic Status 73

c. Three-Step Process 74d. Implicit Bias, Batson’s Third Step and Potential Change 81

Chapter 4 · Preparation for Jury Selection 85A. Preparing for a Successful Jury Selection: Five Goals 85

1. The Primary Goal: Deselection 852. Four Other Goals 87

B. Scouting the Court — Know Your Judge’s Proclivities 871. Questions about the Court’s Procedures 882. Court Rules and Statutes 89a. Federal Civil Rules on Jury Selection 89b. Federal Criminal Rules on Jury Selection 90

3. Court’s Published Guidelines 91C. Scouting the Prospective Jurors 93

1. Investigation of Prospective Jurors 93a. Jury Tampering 94b. Internet Searches 94c. Ex Parte Communication and the Internet 94d. Your Jurisdiction’s Restrictions 96e. Value of the Information 96

2. Jury Service Track Records 983. Community Attitude Research 984. Standard Juror Information Form 99a. Accessing the Information 99b. Utilizing the Information 99

5. Customized Juror Questionnaires 102a. Requesting a Customized Questionnaire 103b. Problems with Customized Questionnaires 103c. Jury Consultant Assistance with Preparation 104d. Templates 104

D. Assembling Your Tools for Jury Selection 1051. Jury Selection Tools 1052. Law and Objections 1063. Your Judge’s Rules and Procedures 1064. Jury Panel Seating and Challenges Chart 106a. Paper Juror Seating Chart 106

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b. Paper Challenges Chart 108c. Electronic Jury Panel Seating and Challenges Charts 109

E. Profiles of the Best and Worst Jurors 1101. Reasons for Developing Juror Profiles 1102. Jury Consultant 111

F. Making and Meeting Objections 1111. Making Objections 111a. The Judge’s Rules 111b. Objections List 112c. Motion in Limine 113

2. Avoiding and Meeting Objections 114G. Assembling Your Team 114H. Preparing Your Client 115

1. Familiarize 1152. Dos and Don’ts 1153. Jury Selection Involvement 116

I. Agenda for Voir Dire 1171. Topics for Discussion 1172. Criminal Case Illustration 1183. Civil Case Illustration 119

J. Voir Dire Scripts 120K. Practice, Practice, Practice 120

Chapter 5 · Getting the Most Out of a Jury Consultant 121A. Getting the Most Out of a Jury Consultant 121B. Performing a Community Attitude Assessment 122

1. Snapshot of Community Attitudes 1232. Change of Venue Motion 1233. Research-Based Profiles 124

C. Design Juror Profiles 125D. Conduct a Focus Group or Mock Trial 126

1. Focus Group vs. Mock Trial 1262. Jury Selection Strategy 1273. Mechanics of a Focus Group 1284. Do It Yourself 128

E. Hold a Mock Jury Selection 129F. Work on the Formulation of Questions 130G. Participate in Jury Selection 131

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Chapter 6 · Favorable Impression of You 133A. Favorable Impression of You 133B. Presence 134

1. Projecting Sincerity 1342. Being Yourself and Being Human 1353. Friendly 1354. Humor 1355. Communicating Nonverbally 136a. Your Countenance 136b. Interaction with Opposing Counsel 136c. Your Dress and Accessories 137d. Personal Appearance 137e. Meaningful Eye Contact 138f. Body Behavior 138g. Courtroom Position 139h. More on Nonverbal Communication 139

6. Be Comfortable — Converting Nervousness to Energy 140a. What Is Important and What Isn’t 140b. Effectively Managing Your Mistakes 140c. Preparation and Practice 140

C. Professionalism 141D. Civility 141

Chapter 7 · Mining Useful Information 143A. Mining Useful Information 143B. Preliminary Remarks 144

1. Matters to Cover 1442. Illustrations of Preliminary Remarks 1453. Objectionable Remarks 147

C. Make a Personal Connection 1481. Something in Common 1482. Sharing Your Life 149a. Talking about Yourself 149b. Opposing the Introduction of Counsel’s Background Information 150

D. Nonjudgmental 1511. Nonjudgmental and the Deselection Approach 151a. Hug the Expression of the Negative 152

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b. Tainting the Pool 152c. Generate a Group Discussion 153

2. Accentuate the Positive 153E. Conversational 154

1. Removing Obstructions 154a. Your Notes 154b. The Podium 155c. Talking Too Much 155

2. Principles of Carrying on a Good Conversation 155a. Listen Actively 155b. Speak Clearly, Simply, and in Plain English 156c. Use a Conversational Tone and Manner 156d. Have Something Interesting to Say 156

3. The Overly Talkative and the Quiet Ones 157a. Cut Off the Overly Talkative Ones 157b. Involving the Quiet Ones 157

Chapter 8 · Questioning Strategies & Techniques 159A. Questioning Strategies and Techniques 159B. Breaking the Ice Strategies 159

1. Conversation with an Individual Juror 1602. Interesting, Nonthreatening Question to the Panel 164

C. Open-Ended Questions 164D. Forced-Choice Questions 165E. Scaled Questions 168F. Hypothetical Questions 169G. Techniques for Designing Questions 171

1. Your Bad Juror Profile 1712. Your Legal Position 1723. Your Case Narrative 1724. Embarrassing or Personal Matters 172

H. Questioning to Get a Commitment 1731. Interlinked with Closing Argument 1742. Case Story 1743. Questioning about the Jurors’ Duties 176

I. Keep-Them-Focused Strategy 178J. Concluding — That Critical Catch-all Question 178

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Chapter 9 · Favorable Impression of Your Case 181A. Favorable Impression of Your Case 181B. The Court’s Boundaries 182C. Case Analysis — Strengths and Weaknesses 187D. Case Theme 188

1. Criteria for a Compelling Theme 189a. Central Idea — Moral Imperative 189b. Emotional 189c. Memorable 190

2. Finding Your Case Theme 190E. Preliminary Remarks to Advance the Case Theme 192F. Questioning Strategies to Advance the Case Theme 193

Chapter 10 · Advancing Your Legal Position 195A. Legal Position 195B. Initial Remarks Introducing the Legal Position 196C. Questioning That Introduces the Legal Position 197

1. Court’s Province 1972. Inquiring to Determine Possible Bias 198a. Frivolous Lawsuits and the Litigation Lottery 198b. The McDonald’s Case 202c. Explaining the Law and Gaining a Commitment to Follow It 202

Chapter 11 · Advancing Your Case Story 207A. Case Story 207B. Good Person or Company 209C. Deprivation 211

1. Preliminary Remarks 2122. Questions-about-the-Story Method 2133. Surrogate Method 2174. Believable Evidence 221

D. Damages 2221. Plaintiff Voir Dire on Damages 2222. Defense Voir Dire on Damages 227

E. Utilizing Visuals to Advance Your Case Story 228

Chapter 12 · Case Weaknesses & Misconceptions 233A. Case Weaknesses and Misconceptions 233B. Case Weaknesses 234

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1. Embracing Case Weaknesses 2342. Questioning about Weaknesses 235

C. Misconceptions 238D. The Law 239

1. Disagreement with a Particular Law 2392. Burden of Proof 240a. Criminal Cases 240b. Civil Cases 242

E. The Players 2461. Bias For or Against a Player 2472. Bias against Corporations 2493. Bias against the Defendant in a Criminal Case 2534. Problematic Witnesses 2545. Expert Witnesses 2566. Bias against Other Types of Witnesses 259

F. The Evidence 2601. Single Witness 2602. The CSI Effect 2613. Just Circumstantial Evidence 2634. Conflicting Stories 265

G. The Story 2671. Sympathy 2672. Prejudicial Pretrial Publicity 2693. Special Knowledge 273

Chapter 13 · Evaluating Prospective Jurors 277A. Jury Selection Team 277B. Scouting Reports 278C. Telltale Factors 279

1. Interaction with Others and Reading Material 2792. Nonverbal Communication 280a. Body Behavior 282b. Voice and Manner of Speaking 284c. Verbal Responses 285

D. Bad Juror Profile 285E. Group Dynamics 285

1. Leader and Foreperson 2862. Outlier 2873. Opinionated 287

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4. Follower 2885. Impartial 288

F. Your Gut Reaction 288

Chapter 14 · Motions & Responses 291A. Potential Motions 291B. Motion to Change Venue 293

1. Moving Party 294a. Deciding Whether to Make the Motion 294b. Venue Expert 294c. Arguments for Change of Venue Motion 295d. Social Science Research Supporting the Motion 297e. Survey 298

2. Responding Party 300a. Arguments against the Motions 300

C. Motion Challenging the Array 3021. Moving Party 3022. Responding Party 304

D. Motion for Extra Peremptory Challenges 3051. Moving Party 3052. Responding Party 306

E. Motion for Customized Questionnaire and Follow-Up Attorney Questioning 3071. Moving Party 308a. Deciding Whether to Make the Motion 308b. Arguments for Juror Questionnaire and Attorney Follow-Up Voir Dire 308

2. Responding Party 311F. Motion to Preclude Improper Questioning 313

1. Moving Party 313a. Improper Questions 314b. Questions Designed to Indoctrinate 316c. Questions Introducing Improper Argument or Inadmissible Evidence 317

G. Motion for Additional Time for Attorney Questioning 319

Chapter 15 · Assignments for Experiential Learning 321A. Experiential Learning 321B. Law and Facts 322

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C. Teacher’s Manual 322D. Civil Rights Case Synopsis: William F. Wingate v.

Cynthia A. Whitlatch 322E. Domestic Violence Assault in the Second Degree Synopsis:

State v. Timothy Meagher 324F. Experiential Learning Assignments 327

Assignment 1: Lawyer Preparation: The Jury Selection Process — The Jury Selection Binder 327Preparation 327Assignment for Class 327

Assignment 2: Lawyer Preparation: Challenges — The Jury Selection Binder 327Preparation 328Assignment for Class 328

Assignment 3: Lawyer Preparation: Scouting and Objections — The Jury Selection Binder 328Preparation 328Assignment for Class 329

Assignment 4: Jury Consultant 329Preparation 329Assignment for Class 329

Assignment 5: Lawyer Preparation: Case Development for Trial 329Preparation 329Assignment for Class 330

Assignment 6: Delivering Your Preliminary Remarks and Making a Favorable Impression 330Preparation 330Assignment for Class 330

Assignment 7: Types of Questions and Questioning Strategies and Techniques 330Preparation 331Assignment for Class 331

Assignment 8: Initial Remarks and Questions about Your Legal Position 331Preparation 331Assignment for Class 331

Assignment 9: Initial Remarks and Questions about Your Case Story 332Preparation 332Assignment for Class 332

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Assignment 10: Initial Remarks and Questions about Case Weaknesses and Juror Misconception 332Preparation 333Assignment for Class 333

Assignment 11: Jury Selection Including Evaluating the Prospective Jurors 333Preparation 333Assignment for Class 333

Jury Selection Checklist 335Preparation for Jury Selection 335Make a Favorable Impression 337Stimulate an Open Exchange 337Preliminary Remarks 337Questioning Strategies and Techniques 338Discussing Your Legal Position 338Discussing Your Case Story 338Handling Case Weaknesses and Juror Misconception 339Evaluating Prospective Jurors 339Motions Relating to Jury Selection 339

Appendix 341

Index 345

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About the Series

Carolina Academic Press, in cooperation with Northeastern UniversitySchool of Law, is pleased to offer a new series of teaching materials, the Lawyer-ing Series.Carolina Academic Press, an independent publisher, has a strong reputation

for publishing innovative print and digital teaching materials for the law schoolcommunity. Northeastern University School of Law has long been known as aninnovator in legal education, with a national reputation for its Cooperative LegalEducation (Co-op) Program and its rich clinical and externship offerings.Over the last decade, the American Bar Association has urged American law

schools to better prepare their students for the practice of law. Most recently,the ABA has enacted Standards that require all law students to complete a min-imum of six credit hours of “experiential” courses. This requirement com-menced for students beginning law school in fall 2016.It is our sincere hope that the Lawyering Series will support law schools and

law professors — both full-time and adjunct — as they search for more inno-vative and more practical teaching materials.We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please contact Carolina Ac-

ademic Press at manuscript@caplaw.com.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to many individuals who provided insights and support:Laurie Sleeper Wells, administrative assistant; attorney at law Vonda M.Sargent; Kevin Boully, litigation consultant at Persuasion Strategies; andattorney at law Jonathan Barnard. A special thank you to Marilyn J. Bergerand John B. Mitchell, Seattle University Professors Emeriti, for their friendship,guidance, and scholarship.Many thanks for the support and assistance provided through Seattle Uni-

versity School of Law: Dean Annette C. Clark; Dean for Finance and Admin-istration Richard Bird; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs John Eason; andStephanie Wilson, the law school’s Head of Reference Services.And, we want to express our appreciation to our friends and professional

colleagues at Carolina Academic Press: Keith Sipe, Publisher; Carol McGeehan,Senior Acquisitions Editor; Ryland Bowman, Managing Editor; and TJSmithers, Production Associate.

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About the Authors

Ronald H. Clark is a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at SeattleUniversity Law School, where he teaches Pretrial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy andEssential Lawyering Skills. He is a nationally known lecturer and author. Hisprevious books include Pretrial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, Opening Statementand Closing Argument, Evidence: Skills and Strategies and Cross-ExaminationHandbook. Mr. Clark has lectured for numerous bar and other associationsacross the country, as well as for the Department of Justice in Bosnia andKosovo. Mr. Clark served in the King County Prosecutor’s office in Seattle,Washington, as a senior deputy prosecutor, head of the trial teams, and, forten years, as the Chief Deputy of the Criminal Division. Subsequently, Mr.Clark was the Senior Training Counsel at the National Advocacy Center inSouth Carolina.Thomas O’Toole, Ph.D., is President of Sound Jury Consulting. He has

practiced across the nation since 2003 in nearly every litigation type. He hasconsulted on matters as small as low-exposure medical malpractice claims andas large as “bet-the company” MDL class actions and billion dollarenvironmental claims. He received his Ph.D. in litigation psychology andcommunication from the University of Kansas, which houses one of thenation’s only doctoral programs designed to offer formal training for thoseentering the field of jury consulting.

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