Anatomy of a Trial [Period 4, Class #7, 6-24]

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

"First off," Alex said. "Closing arguments. Only one of you went last week, so that means the rest of you should be prepared for today."

She set down a mug of hot tea and gave a somewhat sheepish look at her students. "Your final is ... less detailed than I'd intended. I'm afraid I've spent most of my free time this week dealing with some personal legal concerns. Be as brief or as exhaustive as you'd like, in your responses."

"And if anyone wants extra credit, then please research the ways in which one can obtain an annulment from the commonwealth of Virginia."

... No reason.

Comments

Question 1: Voir Dire - ANAT07

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

Voir dire is the act of interrogating a pool of potential jurors.

1a) Why is voir dire performed?

1b) Give two examples of helpful questions for voir dire. (Feel free to assume the case is your own, from this term, if a hypothetical is needed.)

Re: Question 1: Voir Dire - ANAT07

[glacial_queen]

1a) The voir dire is the process by which jurors are empaneled, so both the prosecuting and defense attorneys have a chance to select an impartial jury, weeding out anyone they feel may be unfairly biased.

1b) "Has any member of your family -- yourself included -- ever been arrested, or served time in prison?" and "Do you feel [x experience] will unfairly bias you in these proceedings?"

Re: Question 1: Voir Dire - ANAT07

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

1a) Because most people aren't qualified to serve on a jury, so you have to weed out the ones that suck the most in order to get a marginally decent group.

1b) Would you be more inclined to trust a person's testimony if they are a police officer? Less likely?