OT: Jury Duty! Help!

[HarryBosch]

Jury selection is part science and part art the way I understand it.

I remember reading that Dr.Phil – before he was Dr.Phil – was actually an advisor to Oprah Winfrey during some trial down in, I believe, Texas. He was a Jury Selection specialist.

I’m sure that what a lawyer looks for in a juror’s background vary from lawyer to lawyer based on the case at hand. So while Lawyer#1 would pick you for Case#1 another Lawyer#2 might not pick you based on what he thinks are the right combination of background variables needed of a juror to win their case. (i.e., every lawyer’s different 🙂

[scaredyclassic]

I wrote a book called HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY, copyright 2006, but was unable to get it published. The worldwide rights are still available if you want to buy it.

Picking juries is part of what I do for a living. It’s fun. My theory on picking juries is I try to engage each individual potential juror in a brief conversation. i try to see if this is a person who is reachable, human, open to dialogue, open to ideas. If so, i don’t care if their wife’s a cop or they think judges are too soft on crime. I’ll gow ith them. To me, it’s a sign of strength ina lawyer to accept jurors who seem superficially to be very pro-law enforcement. And the jurors say, hey, this lawyer must be good or have a strong case, he’s accepting tough jurors. This theory has worked well for me over the years.

I also always ask each individual whetehr they want to be ont his jury and why. If they really don’t want to be there, i don’t want them there….

Most people seem to have enjoyed being on my juries after it’s over. We speak afterward. I try to go to trial only on the most interesting cases.

Let me ask you this. I know the judge said he is presumed innocent. And the law says it. But don’t you really think, when you walk in that courtroom,in your gut, more likely than not the defendant did just what they say he did? Forget “presumptions” and other terms of art. Don’t you think the cops usually get it right? if you think they usually get it right, then you probably beleive, he did what he’s accused of. How do you really feel…if you really feel the defendant is probably guilty, and you can communicate that to the court, you cannot be on thejury. But, you must be honest. I think most people honestly believe that most people charged are probably guilty.

Drink Heavily.

[scaredyclassic]

I wrote a book called HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY, copyright 2006, but was unable to get it published. The worldwide rights are still available if you want to buy it.

Picking juries is part of what I do for a living. It’s fun. My theory on picking juries is I try to engage each individual potential juror in a brief conversation. i try to see if this is a person who is reachable, human, open to dialogue, open to ideas. If so, i don’t care if their wife’s a cop or they think judges are too soft on crime. I’ll gow ith them. To me, it’s a sign of strength ina lawyer to accept jurors who seem superficially to be very pro-law enforcement. And the jurors say, hey, this lawyer must be good or have a strong case, he’s accepting tough jurors. This theory has worked well for me over the years.

I also always ask each individual whetehr they want to be ont his jury and why. If they really don’t want to be there, i don’t want them there….

Most people seem to have enjoyed being on my juries after it’s over. We speak afterward. I try to go to trial only on the most interesting cases.

Let me ask you this. I know the judge said he is presumed innocent. And the law says it. But don’t you really think, when you walk in that courtroom,in your gut, more likely than not the defendant did just what they say he did? Forget “presumptions” and other terms of art. Don’t you think the cops usually get it right? if you think they usually get it right, then you probably beleive, he did what he’s accused of. How do you really feel…if you really feel the defendant is probably guilty, and you can communicate that to the court, you cannot be on thejury. But, you must be honest. I think most people honestly believe that most people charged are probably guilty.

Drink Heavily.

[scaredyclassic]

I wrote a book called HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY, copyright 2006, but was unable to get it published. The worldwide rights are still available if you want to buy it.

Picking juries is part of what I do for a living. It’s fun. My theory on picking juries is I try to engage each individual potential juror in a brief conversation. i try to see if this is a person who is reachable, human, open to dialogue, open to ideas. If so, i don’t care if their wife’s a cop or they think judges are too soft on crime. I’ll gow ith them. To me, it’s a sign of strength ina lawyer to accept jurors who seem superficially to be very pro-law enforcement. And the jurors say, hey, this lawyer must be good or have a strong case, he’s accepting tough jurors. This theory has worked well for me over the years.

I also always ask each individual whetehr they want to be ont his jury and why. If they really don’t want to be there, i don’t want them there….

Most people seem to have enjoyed being on my juries after it’s over. We speak afterward. I try to go to trial only on the most interesting cases.

Let me ask you this. I know the judge said he is presumed innocent. And the law says it. But don’t you really think, when you walk in that courtroom,in your gut, more likely than not the defendant did just what they say he did? Forget “presumptions” and other terms of art. Don’t you think the cops usually get it right? if you think they usually get it right, then you probably beleive, he did what he’s accused of. How do you really feel…if you really feel the defendant is probably guilty, and you can communicate that to the court, you cannot be on thejury. But, you must be honest. I think most people honestly believe that most people charged are probably guilty.

Drink Heavily.

[scaredyclassic]

I wrote a book called HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY, copyright 2006, but was unable to get it published. The worldwide rights are still available if you want to buy it.

Picking juries is part of what I do for a living. It’s fun. My theory on picking juries is I try to engage each individual potential juror in a brief conversation. i try to see if this is a person who is reachable, human, open to dialogue, open to ideas. If so, i don’t care if their wife’s a cop or they think judges are too soft on crime. I’ll gow ith them. To me, it’s a sign of strength ina lawyer to accept jurors who seem superficially to be very pro-law enforcement. And the jurors say, hey, this lawyer must be good or have a strong case, he’s accepting tough jurors. This theory has worked well for me over the years.

I also always ask each individual whetehr they want to be ont his jury and why. If they really don’t want to be there, i don’t want them there….

Most people seem to have enjoyed being on my juries after it’s over. We speak afterward. I try to go to trial only on the most interesting cases.

Let me ask you this. I know the judge said he is presumed innocent. And the law says it. But don’t you really think, when you walk in that courtroom,in your gut, more likely than not the defendant did just what they say he did? Forget “presumptions” and other terms of art. Don’t you think the cops usually get it right? if you think they usually get it right, then you probably beleive, he did what he’s accused of. How do you really feel…if you really feel the defendant is probably guilty, and you can communicate that to the court, you cannot be on thejury. But, you must be honest. I think most people honestly believe that most people charged are probably guilty.

Drink Heavily.

[scaredyclassic]

I wrote a book called HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY, copyright 2006, but was unable to get it published. The worldwide rights are still available if you want to buy it.

Picking juries is part of what I do for a living. It’s fun. My theory on picking juries is I try to engage each individual potential juror in a brief conversation. i try to see if this is a person who is reachable, human, open to dialogue, open to ideas. If so, i don’t care if their wife’s a cop or they think judges are too soft on crime. I’ll gow ith them. To me, it’s a sign of strength ina lawyer to accept jurors who seem superficially to be very pro-law enforcement. And the jurors say, hey, this lawyer must be good or have a strong case, he’s accepting tough jurors. This theory has worked well for me over the years.

I also always ask each individual whetehr they want to be ont his jury and why. If they really don’t want to be there, i don’t want them there….

Most people seem to have enjoyed being on my juries after it’s over. We speak afterward. I try to go to trial only on the most interesting cases.

Let me ask you this. I know the judge said he is presumed innocent. And the law says it. But don’t you really think, when you walk in that courtroom,in your gut, more likely than not the defendant did just what they say he did? Forget “presumptions” and other terms of art. Don’t you think the cops usually get it right? if you think they usually get it right, then you probably beleive, he did what he’s accused of. How do you really feel…if you really feel the defendant is probably guilty, and you can communicate that to the court, you cannot be on thejury. But, you must be honest. I think most people honestly believe that most people charged are probably guilty.

Drink Heavily.

[dharmagirl]

I wonder if admitting to being a Piggington poster would be enough of an excuse ;->

Sigh.

My husband has been regaling me stories of the unbridled stupidity that he sees every day down at the courthouse. It’s amazing. He cant discuss the case, of course, so he just tells me the peripheral stuff…like the people trying to chase a snake with a shovel yesterday in the parking lot and other bizarro stuff.

I’m a highly impatient person and have a hard time sitting still so I think jury duty would be absolute torture for me.

[dharmagirl]

I wonder if admitting to being a Piggington poster would be enough of an excuse ;->

Sigh.

My husband has been regaling me stories of the unbridled stupidity that he sees every day down at the courthouse. It’s amazing. He cant discuss the case, of course, so he just tells me the peripheral stuff…like the people trying to chase a snake with a shovel yesterday in the parking lot and other bizarro stuff.

I’m a highly impatient person and have a hard time sitting still so I think jury duty would be absolute torture for me.

[dharmagirl]

I wonder if admitting to being a Piggington poster would be enough of an excuse ;->

Sigh.

My husband has been regaling me stories of the unbridled stupidity that he sees every day down at the courthouse. It’s amazing. He cant discuss the case, of course, so he just tells me the peripheral stuff…like the people trying to chase a snake with a shovel yesterday in the parking lot and other bizarro stuff.

I’m a highly impatient person and have a hard time sitting still so I think jury duty would be absolute torture for me.

[dharmagirl]

I wonder if admitting to being a Piggington poster would be enough of an excuse ;->

Sigh.

My husband has been regaling me stories of the unbridled stupidity that he sees every day down at the courthouse. It’s amazing. He cant discuss the case, of course, so he just tells me the peripheral stuff…like the people trying to chase a snake with a shovel yesterday in the parking lot and other bizarro stuff.

I’m a highly impatient person and have a hard time sitting still so I think jury duty would be absolute torture for me.

[dharmagirl]

I wonder if admitting to being a Piggington poster would be enough of an excuse ;->

Sigh.

My husband has been regaling me stories of the unbridled stupidity that he sees every day down at the courthouse. It’s amazing. He cant discuss the case, of course, so he just tells me the peripheral stuff…like the people trying to chase a snake with a shovel yesterday in the parking lot and other bizarro stuff.

I’m a highly impatient person and have a hard time sitting still so I think jury duty would be absolute torture for me.

[HarryBosch]

publicdefender, I like your strategy on picking jurors. Kind of a contrarian approach. Interesting that you plant a thought in their heads without even having to say it out loud – probably works better that way.

WRT presumed innocence – yes, my immediate thought on hearing that someone has been accused of a crime is that they probably did it.

My secondary thoughts are that I don’t think the prosecutor’s office would bring forth a charge unless they believe they can win the case. And, I imply that I think that the veteran attorneys – or maybe it’s just the high profile attorneys – care more about winning than actually proving or disproving guilt.

[HarryBosch]

publicdefender, I like your strategy on picking jurors. Kind of a contrarian approach. Interesting that you plant a thought in their heads without even having to say it out loud – probably works better that way.

WRT presumed innocence – yes, my immediate thought on hearing that someone has been accused of a crime is that they probably did it.

My secondary thoughts are that I don’t think the prosecutor’s office would bring forth a charge unless they believe they can win the case. And, I imply that I think that the veteran attorneys – or maybe it’s just the high profile attorneys – care more about winning than actually proving or disproving guilt.

[HarryBosch]

publicdefender, I like your strategy on picking jurors. Kind of a contrarian approach. Interesting that you plant a thought in their heads without even having to say it out loud – probably works better that way.

WRT presumed innocence – yes, my immediate thought on hearing that someone has been accused of a crime is that they probably did it.

My secondary thoughts are that I don’t think the prosecutor’s office would bring forth a charge unless they believe they can win the case. And, I imply that I think that the veteran attorneys – or maybe it’s just the high profile attorneys – care more about winning than actually proving or disproving guilt.

[HarryBosch]

publicdefender, I like your strategy on picking jurors. Kind of a contrarian approach. Interesting that you plant a thought in their heads without even having to say it out loud – probably works better that way.

WRT presumed innocence – yes, my immediate thought on hearing that someone has been accused of a crime is that they probably did it.

My secondary thoughts are that I don’t think the prosecutor’s office would bring forth a charge unless they believe they can win the case. And, I imply that I think that the veteran attorneys – or maybe it’s just the high profile attorneys – care more about winning than actually proving or disproving guilt.

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