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

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)