Fairfax Voir Dire Strategy

Voir dire is a legal process during which lawyers ask potential jury members about their beliefs, background, biases, and any information they have about the particular case they may hear. Voir dire is meant to pinpoint any potential biases that could prevent a potential juror from fairly considering the evidence and ultimately, deciding on a verdict. During the process, a lawyer can reject prospective jurors through a peremptory strike or based on cause. Through peremptory strikes, lawyers do not need to give cause for rejecting a potential juror. Follow the tips below to ensure your Fairfax voir dire strategy is a success.

Treat it Like a Conversation

Prospective jurors can easily feel overwhelmed and intimidated when lawyers speak to them too professionally or too aggressively. While it is critical to maintain a professional appearance and attitude, it is just as important to approach questioning prospective jurors like a conversation instead of like a job interview. Encourage potential jurors to participate and as they have provided answers, listen to them carefully in order to get the best results.

Encourage Transparency

Again, the entire point of voir dire is to choose potential jurors who are fair and honest. Even so, it is important to remember that everyone carries some sort of bias. Acknowledging this with potential jurors and stressing that candor and transparency are of the utmost importance can help. Do not make biases appear inherently bad but instead, they are simply a result of their own beliefs and backgrounds. This can prevent jurors from feeling inferior because of them while encouraging honesty at the same time.

Encourage Potential Jurors to Speak Freely

During trial, the attorneys speak far more than the jury members do. During a voir dire, though, prospective jurors should do most of the talking. When you start the process, ask the jurors questions about their background that can help you better understand their social status, demographics, and more. Then make statements specific to a case, such as if they feel major manufacturers engage in greedy practices, and ask them if they agree or disagree and why. This can help prospective jurors feel more comfortable, making it easier for them to speak more freely.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Asking questions that are strictly ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will likely not provide the insight into prospective jurors you were hoping to obtain. Instead, ask open-ended questions that require explanations that are a bit more in-depth so you can gain a full understanding of their points of view and perceptions that can either help or hurt your case.

We Can Provide the Voir Dire Strategy in Fairfax You Need

There are many tips that can ensure that your voir dire is as successful as possible. At MGM Trial Services, Inc., our Fairfax voir dire strategy specialists can ensure that you are properly prepared for the process, and for the other aspects of a trial so you can focus on your client and prepare arguments that will help their case. Call us now at 410-303-7800 or fill out our online form to speak to one of our team members and to get the help you need for trial.