Exciting new series on “Voice, Body and Movement for Lawyers – How to connect with the jury and find Justice Through Dramatic Technique!”
Click here to find out moreWith increased polarization of political opinions in the Trump, lawyers defending employers in employment cases have had to reconsider how they select jurors and present their cases. During this presentation Chris Bacon will talk about how he and other employment lawyers have adjusted their trial strategies in this new era. Questions that we will discuss include: How should a lawyer handle voir dire? What kind of jurors are you looking for? Is a juror with strong conservative views really an ideal juror for the defense in a sexual harassment or race discrimination case? We will also talk about how the actual trial needs to be approached in this era of political tribalism. For example, what arguments resonate best with jurors today including those with strong liberal views (e.g., the #metoo juror in a harassment case)? How do you make your witnesses persuasive and likeable-- to jurors on both sides of the political spectrum? How do you present evidence to jurors who are hooked on social media and cable news? Finally, we will talk about whether employers should consider the current political climate when making employment decisions. Are employees on opposite sides of the political spectrum likely to view decisions differently and is there anything that can be done to avoid the negative reaction should people holding similar views end up on a jury in which the decision is challenged?
