64. Breaking the Ice: Voir Dire Tips and Tactics, with Judge Cynthia McCollum
1Description
As a sitting district court judge and 29-year public defender, NITA Program Director Judge Cynthia McCollum knows a thing or two about jury selection, and in this episode, she opens up about how to get your jurors to open up. She serves up a baker’s dozen of her best tips for getting jurors to talk during voir dire, mistakes she learned from as a public defender, what to know about Batson challenges, and anecdotes about her career trajectory before and on the bench.
Topics
3:50 First tip for getting jurors to open up during voir dire
4:47 Second tip
5:45 Judge’s first time in court as a new lawyer
9:48 . Third tip
14:24 Fourth tip
18:33 Fifth tip
20:08 Being a public defender, then a judge
24:42 Sixth tip
26:39 . Seventh tip
29:28 What it’s like to be a judge
31:48 Eighth tip
33:09 Ninth tip
38:25 Tenth tip
41:31 NITA involvement
45:06 Eleventh tip
48:35 Twelfth tip
50:32 Baker’s dozen tip about Batson
52:39 Signoff questions
Quote
“Everyone needs to work on their jury selection. It’s not a natural for a lot of people, because you get nervous about asking those tough questions.” Judge Cynthia McCollum
Resources
Judge Cynthia McCollum (bio)
Batson bonuses (file)
Minnesota Deposition Skills and Trial Skills (programs)
United States
