LAW 509 - Jury Strategies: Understanding, Selecting, and Persuading Your Jury

Credits: 2

A seminar intended for those students who have an interest in developing critical insights and techniques in the power of persuasion of jurors. The factors, both conscious and unconscious, which compel jurors in the processing of evidence, and the hierarchy of decision-making, will be examined. Analysis of the spectrum of impact, subtle to dramatic, of memory, perception, bias, and heuristics will be applied by each student to develop strategies to fairly and professionally influence jurors in the pursuit of justice. Integration of coursework and simulations will result in each student drafting, arguing, conducting case specific voir dire, and making decisions regarding challenges for cause and peremptory strikes, resulting in the selection of a jury of citizens from the community. Additionally, each student will deliver an opening statement to the selected jury and receive juror feedback. Grades are based on professionalism, class participation, drafted memoranda, and performance.