Jury Research Institute

Voir Dire

Pretrial Preparation Techniques for an Effective Voir Dire

Asking the Right Questions

After you have elicited the information that tells you who the jurors really are, you may want to sensitize them to some important concepts. The form of a question influences whether you are asking for information or imparting it; thus, you can use questions as a subtle form of persuasion.

Know When to Use Persuasive Questions. You can be creative with such questions. But remember, they give you little information about the jurors. Ask them only after you have fully examined jurors and gathered all the information you need. Do not ask every juror these questions or they will lose their power.