NCJ Number
77208
Journal
Florida Bar Journal Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1979) Pages: 144-149
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses an attorney's impressions of voir dire, based on his trial practice experiences; the subjective nature of the material is emphasized.
Abstract
Voir dire is the process through which individuals who are unsuitable for jury service are eliminated. Voir dire preserves the jury's impartiality. In the jury selection process, there are four primary objectives that the trial attorney should accomplish: establish presence, relate to each potential juror, obtain information to make an intelligent challenge, and establish credibility. In addition, the attorney may enhance the persuasive impact of communicating with the prospective juror by developing and encouraging a perception of similarities between himself/herself and the juror. The article suggests that effective intuition regarding jury selection is the result of careful observations, hard work, and sensitivity to others. Some of the techniques that have been proposed include observation of body types and consideration of the individual's body language and consistency upon questioning. The article concludes that greater cooperation between trial attorneys and social scientists who are empirically evaluating the voir dire process is needed. Until alternatives are developed that are based on sound research, voir dire will remain an art to be handled with care. The article includes 21 references.