Vol. 21/No. 1 January 2009 Archive

  • This year I’ve been asked to serve as an expert witness in two different capital cases in which the defense was concerned that the defendant would stand trial by an all-White (or nearly all-White) jury.  In both cases, the defendant was a Black man and his attorneys were concerned that […]

    On the Obstacles to Jury Diversity

    by Samuel R. Sommers, Ph.D. This year I’ve been asked to serve as an expert witness in two different capital cases in which the defense was concerned that the defendant would stand trial by an all-White (or nearly all-White) jury.  In both cases, the defendant was a Black man and his attorneys were concerned that […]

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  • Voir dire focused only on juror demographics offers very little insight into potential jurors’ inherent biases, deeply-held prejudices, and overall world views. Knowing what individuals believe, how they interpret life, and the filters through which they make judgments is of far greater value than knowing where they live and what […]

    Take Me to Your Leader: An Examination of Authoritarianism as an Indicator of Juror Bias

    by Gayle W. Herde, Ph.D. Voir dire focused only on juror demographics offers very little insight into potential jurors’ inherent biases, deeply-held prejudices, and overall world views. Knowing what individuals believe, how they interpret life, and the filters through which they make judgments is of far greater value than knowing where they live and what […]

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  • Should trial attorneys and experts condemn racial profiling as a police practice while condoning racial profiling in jury selection at trial?  As a British philosopher who has lived and worked in the United States, I offer some suggestions to help readers make the most of their expertise. These are complicated […]

    Ethical Issues in Racial Profiling

    by Annabelle Lever, Ph.D. Should trial attorneys and experts condemn racial profiling as a police practice while condoning racial profiling in jury selection at trial?  As a British philosopher who has lived and worked in the United States, I offer some suggestions to help readers make the most of their expertise. These are complicated […]

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  • Thanks to Leslie Ellis of TrialGraphix  |  Kroll Ontrack we actually have TWO favorite things this issue.  Leslie’s Favorite Thing One: My new favorite thing is the TripIt website.  You forward your confirmation emails from airlines, hotels, car rentals, etc. to the website, and it puts it all in one, […]

    Our Favorite Thing

    by The Jury Expert Thanks to Leslie Ellis of TrialGraphix  |  Kroll Ontrack we actually have TWO favorite things this issue.  Leslie’s Favorite Thing One: My new favorite thing is the TripIt website.  You forward your confirmation emails from airlines, hotels, car rentals, etc. to the website, and it puts it all in one, […]

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  • What Is Anti-Muslim Bias? Imagine being a woman in your 70s bound to a wheel chair.  You have just lost your husband.  You are pleading with the justice system to enforce your rent control rights in an apartment where you have been paying rent, for over 20 years. You wear […]

    Strategies and Tactics for Addressing Anti-Muslim Bias in the Courtroom

    by Naveen Khan What Is Anti-Muslim Bias? Imagine being a woman in your 70s bound to a wheel chair.  You have just lost your husband.  You are pleading with the justice system to enforce your rent control rights in an apartment where you have been paying rent, for over 20 years. You wear […]

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  • Defense attorney Tom Martin1 had five days left to prepare and finalize his voir dire for a high stakes medical malpractice case. After over twenty-eight months of preparation, Tom was ready to rock and roll. “I’ve covered the bases on past medical experiences with illness or injury, sick and disabled at […]

    Managing Patriotic Prejudice when Representing Arab, Muslim or Middle Eastern Clients

    by Dennis C. Elias, Ph.D. Defense attorney Tom Martin1 had five days left to prepare and finalize his voir dire for a high stakes medical malpractice case. After over twenty-eight months of preparation, Tom was ready to rock and roll. “I’ve covered the bases on past medical experiences with illness or injury, sick and disabled at […]

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  • There are two great benefits that proponents of forensic animations like to advertise about their product.  The first is that that having a courtroom animation increases the persuasiveness of an argument and the second is that an animation creates a lasting visual impression that is retained in jurors’ memories longer […]

    The Lesser Known Benefits of Forensic Animation

    by Eugene Liscio There are two great benefits that proponents of forensic animations like to advertise about their product.  The first is that that having a courtroom animation increases the persuasiveness of an argument and the second is that an animation creates a lasting visual impression that is retained in jurors’ memories longer […]

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  •   Happy New Year! For The Jury Expert, it’s especially good to turn the calendar year. In 2008, TJE went digital. We debuted in May, 2008 on the web in the form of downloadable PDF files. Now, especially for 2009, you can read The Jury Expert entirely on-line. You can […]

    Editors’ Note

    by Rita Handrich, Editor   Happy New Year! For The Jury Expert, it’s especially good to turn the calendar year. In 2008, TJE went digital. We debuted in May, 2008 on the web in the form of downloadable PDF files. Now, especially for 2009, you can read The Jury Expert entirely on-line. You can […]

    Continue Reading...