Jury Selection: Strategies for Uncovering and Addressing Bias on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity

This session examines how race, gender, and ethnicity vary across different U.S. regions in terms of demographics and social perceptions. Participants will explore dramatic variations in jury pool composition between federal districts and even within the same state.

This session highlights how juror attitudes differ significantly across regions and evolve over time. Attorneys will learn why developing location-specific trial and voir dire strategies is essential for addressing these regional differences.

This session explores how gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation shape juror perceptions and credibility assessments. Participants will examine regional variations in attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights and gendered courtroom expectations.

This session distinguishes between implicit and explicit biases and explains how both affect juror decision-making. Attorneys will learn about affinity bias and strategies for identifying biases that may help or harm their case.

This session covers practical techniques for developing targeted questions that uncover racial, gender, and ethnic biases. Participants will explore direct versus indirect questioning approaches, jury questionnaires, and the breadcrumb method for detecting hidden biases.

This session examines best practices for making and defending challenges while complying with Batson v. Kentucky requirements. Participants will learn why diverse juries produce better outcomes and how to prepare bias instructions for judges.