Trial Tip: My Voir Dire Jury Experiment
I tried an experiment related to selecting the jury (voir dire) before my last three jury trials. The result? Three consecutive 12-0 verdicts.
This isn't something you commonly hear about in trial practice, but I want to share it because I think there's something to it.
I've had a morning meditation practice for many years. Before one of my trials, I decided to add a specific intention to that practice — starting 30 days before trial.
Every morning, I would set this intention: "When our trial begins, we will be sent the perfect panel of potential jurors and we will pick the perfect 12 jurors and 1 or 2 alternates for this case."
Once the jury was picked and I had my yellow pad with all their names and seat numbers, I changed the intention. Early each morning during trial, I would go through each juror individually. Juror number one, John Jones — I'm connected to you, you're connected to me. I set the intention that they would be open and receptive to our evidence and ultimately vote in favor of my client.
I did this every morning of the trial and during deliberations.
π§π΅π² πΏπ²πππΉππ:
→ First trial: Plaintiff's business dispute. 12-0 verdict. Got every penny I asked for.
→ Second trial: Defense side, business contract fraud case. 12-0 verdict. Total defense verdict — plaintiff got nothing.
→ Third trial: Defense side, another business dispute. 12-0 verdict again.
Before these three trials, I'd had verdicts of 9-3, 10-2, 11-1. But never three unanimous verdicts in a row.
Could it be happenstance? Maybe. Could it be that my skills developed over the years? Possibly.
But I think there's something to the interconnectivity of energy. When you focus your intention on something consistently, it may have an impact on what happens.
At the very least, by the time that jury panel walked in, I felt a better connection with them from the start. And that feeling carried through the trial.
Something to think about for your next case.
I discussed this experiment in the recent episode of my Trial Alchemy™ podcast. To watch and listen to what I said, click above.
To listen to the entire podcast episode:
Click here to listen on my website.
To listen to the podcast on Spotify, click here.
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To watch and listen to the podcast on YouTube, click here.
I handle a few select civil cases where I represent plaintiffs or defendants in business, insurance bad faith, personal injury, real property and wrongful death actions. Using my experience as a California civil trial lawyer since 1980, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates since 1995, my goal is to get each client the best possible result. My clients get the benefit of big firm experience with small firm attention and reasonable rates. To discuss a potential case, email me at monty@montymcintyre.com, or call me at (619) 990-4312.
Do well and be well.
Best regards,
Monty A. McIntyre, Esq.
Business, Insurance Bad Faith, Real Property and Tort Litigation.
Trial Mentoring™: Trial training & preparation
Podcaster: Trial Alchemy™
Publisher: California Case Summaries™
CA attorney since 1980. ABOTA Member Since 1995
Past President San Diego County Bar Assn., SD ABOTA Chapter
Phone: (619) 990-4312.
Email: monty@montymcintyre.com
