How to Select a Jury: Demonstrations by Experienced Trial Lawyers

Co-produced with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

Your case is in their hands

While you won't win the case at voir dire, it is certainly possible to lose a case there. Selecting the men and women who sit on a jury is a skill best learned through experience. That’s why, for more than 25 years, the State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE has partnered with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) to teach trial skills in a mock trial setting. This year, we are offering an additional pretrial seminar How to Select a Jury: Demonstrations by Experienced Trial Lawyers, where you’ll learn different voir dire styles and techniques from veteran trial lawyers.

Using the same dynamic format as the Institute of Trial Practice, you’ll witness jury selection in a mock-courtroom setting. The proceedings at this program will be presided over by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard G. Neiss. Watch how plaintiff and defense attorneys approach jury selection. Gain first-hand insight from experienced practitioners as they describe their reasoning for the questions they asked, the strikes they made, and why they may have done it all differently in another situation. Plus, you’ll get the rare opportunity to hear from the jury as they discuss how they felt about the approaches taken and the questions asked.

Take part in the action

As our four trial lawyers (two plaintiff and two defense) voir dire the panel, you’ll have the chance to choose your own jury. Review the questionnaires from the 16 potential jurors along with a sample strike worksheet, then make your selections. Would you strike the same names as the demonstrators? What about your colleagues? We’ll poll the live audience to find out. The jury selected at this seminar will be invited back to serve on the same case at the Institute of Trial Practice in November.