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hlthe2b

(108,543 posts)

5. Voir Dire for a murder trial. The defense got cute with the gun questions and 'what constituted

Mon Apr 19, 2021, 08:39 PM

Apr 2021

self-defense'... While I had no idea what the circumstances of the case might be, my instinctive responses zeroed in on the problem for the defense (turns out the guy had actually left a fight with his neighbor to go home to get his AR15, return and shoot him)... So, while I was dismissed in the last rounds of voir dire, my answers had "mortally wounded" the intended defense, so they changed gears to ask for a competency hearing, which the judge (rather angrily, given the obvious 'Hail Mary' ) granted. Two years later, it finally came to trial (sans me, of course) and he was convicted after changing lawyers twice.

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Have you ever served on a jury? I have once and experienced voir dire twice [View all] demtenjeep Apr 2021 OP

What is voir dire? BigmanPigman Apr 2021 #1

It literally means "to see/to speak" StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #2

OK, thanks! BigmanPigman Apr 2021 #4

That's all part of the voir dire process StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #7

That makes sense. BigmanPigman Apr 2021 #10

I love being on a jury, but am rarely chosen because lawyers often believe that lawyers will have to StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #16

The process of asking questions to determine juror bias HariSeldon Apr 2021 #6

Did you REALLY not know that you could have typed "voir dire" in your address bar and found out? Towlie Apr 2021 #65

Didn't you know many people don't know what voir dire is. Why make people work and use google Beringia Apr 2021 #72

Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them how to fish and you feed them for life. Towlie Apr 2021 #74

I usually do Google for info BigmanPigman Apr 2021 #76

it really isn't lazy demtenjeep Apr 2021 #81

Thank you. BigmanPigman Apr 2021 #82

I've tried cases to juries and served on juries StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #3

Voir Dire for a murder trial. The defense got cute with the gun questions and 'what constituted hlthe2b Apr 2021 #5

Yes, a couple of civil cases in the 1980s Sherman A1 Apr 2021 #8

Yes, twice and I am going in for jury selection next Monday csziggy Apr 2021 #9

I served on a jury once. Why either side let a lawyer serve is beyond me. TomSlick Apr 2021 #11

My experience was similar StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #21

The guy spent six months in jail for something he didn't do questionseverything Apr 2021 #29

Yes, it eventually worked StarfishSaver Apr 2021 #32

Very Similar ProfessorGAC Apr 2021 #78

Yes, I was chosen as an alternate juror over 10 years ago in an asbestos/lung cancer case. beaglelover Apr 2021 #12

I sat on 3 - and all were murder cases Siwsan Apr 2021 #13

Once before I got into law enforcement CanonRay Apr 2021 #14

Called multiple times, went through voir dire once. Ms. Toad Apr 2021 #15

They won't pick engineers zipplewrath Apr 2021 #17

I've been on 2 juries hauckeye Apr 2021 #18

Appeared a few times, but never selected. Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2021 #19

LOL!!! LeftInTX Apr 2021 #57

I have never made it that far... secondwind Apr 2021 #20

When I served on a jury, one of my fellow jurors was an attorney and another Tanuki Apr 2021 #24

Yes, I was on a jury in a first degree murder trial. It was extremely stressful Tanuki Apr 2021 #22

I don't get called any more because I can't hear well. nt leftyladyfrommo Apr 2021 #23

Yes. Had a surprise mystery witness, a confession in open court, and an immediate arrest . . . Journeyman Apr 2021 #25

I was on a jury in 3 police officers were sued. One of the cops was empedocles Apr 2021 #26

Never mcar Apr 2021 #27

I'm a teacher. Probably why I didn't get picked on the 2nd trial? DA asked what my fav t-shirt was demtenjeep Apr 2021 #31

I did. Turbineguy Apr 2021 #28

I served on a jury a long time ago. Aristus Apr 2021 #30

Possession of a "legend drug"? I would call that an epic case of auto-correct, Aristus! Hekate Apr 2021 #47

How so? Aristus Apr 2021 #50

My blushes. I have never heard the term before. One learns something new every day, it seems. Hekate Apr 2021 #55

nor I ( was sure it was a misspelling) -(nt)- stopdiggin Apr 2021 #61

I couldn't serve on a possession case Elessar Zappa Apr 2021 #75

About 20 years ago I was called for jury duty. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2021 #33

Twice relayerbob Apr 2021 #34

Once, it was one of the worst experiences of my life it Raine Apr 2021 #35

I was on a Grand Jury for 6 months The Polack MSgt Apr 2021 #36

Same experience Sgent Apr 2021 #67

I still feel sick bout my only jury experience.......haven't told anyone about this either. a kennedy Apr 2021 #37

Many times. Grand juries, criminal and civil juries, and even Glorfindel Apr 2021 #38

Never served on a jury (aside from DU) Retrograde Apr 2021 #39

I was on a criminal jury and a Grand Jury... brooklynite Apr 2021 #40

I think it would be interesting. Alas, they always ask me a few questions, thank me... hunter Apr 2021 #41

They don't like smart people on juries. LeftInTX Apr 2021 #58

Exactly! redstatebluegirl Apr 2021 #64

been on three. bedazzled Apr 2021 #42

I experienced voir dire once, for a murder case, but was not chosen for the jury. ShazzieB Apr 2021 #43

I just remembered an interesting (to me) detail. ShazzieB Apr 2021 #48

I have. herding cats Apr 2021 #44

Good for you! ShazzieB Apr 2021 #49

Aww, thank you! herding cats Apr 2021 #51

This message was self-deleted by its author ShazzieB Apr 2021 #45

Twice--one when a woman originaly pled guilty to a traffic issue, then tried to back out of her plea Maeve Apr 2021 #46

All I know about Voir Dire I learned from My Cousin Vinny robbob Apr 2021 #52

Yep - hope I never have to again FreeState Apr 2021 #53

Outside your window shanti Apr 2021 #84

Just a few times. A bogus injury, a very serious injury, and a serial rapist... Hekate Apr 2021 #54

Two juries Tree Lady Apr 2021 #56

A few times. I was voted jury foreman for the last one. SeattleVet Apr 2021 #59

No, but I get called every two years, Teachers get called a lot RANDYWILDMAN Apr 2021 #60

This message was self-deleted by its author Deminpenn Apr 2021 #62

once. and stricken during voir dire. stopdiggin Apr 2021 #63

voir dire three times HAB911 Apr 2021 #66

Yes. Twice. MineralMan Apr 2021 #68

Ya know, the standard is NOT 100% Happy Hoosier Apr 2021 #69

My spouse did. Ilsa Apr 2021 #70

I did, once mnhtnbb Apr 2021 #71

Same as you OriginalGeek Apr 2021 #73

Yes, March of 2020 ProfessorGAC Apr 2021 #77

Yes, Notek Apr 2021 #79

Tried civil cases to a jury but never been on one hardluck Apr 2021 #80

In 2009 I served on a jury for 3rd degree murder & other charges Orrex Apr 2021 #83