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)
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