64. Breaking the Ice: Voir Dire Tips and Tactics, with Judge Cynthia McCollum

18/03/2025 57 min Episodio 64
64. Breaking the Ice: Voir Dire Tips and Tactics, with Judge Cynthia McCollum

Listen "64. Breaking the Ice: Voir Dire Tips and Tactics, with Judge Cynthia McCollum"

Episode Synopsis

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. Topics3:50  First tip for getting jurors to open up during voir dire4:47  Second tip5:45  Judge’s first time in court as a new lawyer 9:48. Third tip14:24  Fourth tip18:33  Fifth tip20:08  Being a public defender, then a judge24:42  Sixth tip26:39. Seventh tip29:28  What it’s like to be a judge31:48  Eighth tip33:09  Ninth tip38:25  Tenth tip41:31  NITA involvement45:06  Eleventh tip48:35  Twelfth tip50:32  Baker’s dozen tip about Batson52:39  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 McCollumResourcesJudge Cynthia McCollum (bio)Batson bonuses (file)Minnesota Deposition Skills and Trial Skills (programs) 

More episodes of the podcast May the Record Reflect