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Judges lead Voir Dire forum

Issue August 2011

Five Superior Court judges and state and national experts led a Bench-Bar Voir Dire Forum on June 22 to evaluate the merits of different approaches being used for jury selection. The program was held June 22 at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education's Boston office at 10 Winter Place.

The highlight of the program was a panel discussion of judges and lawyers who evaluated a recent electronic survey of the entire Superior Court bench regarding current approaches to jury selection and voir dire.

In addition to the panel, the forum featured presentations by commentators from the National Center for State Courts, who spoke about their research and perspectives on jury selection and voir dire from across the country.

The forum was sponsored by the Judicial Administration Section.

The faculty included Superior Court Judges Peter M. Lauriat (program chair), Elizabeth M. Fahey, Kenneth J. Fishman, Geraldine S. Hines and Robert C. Rufo, as well as the Hon. Gregory E. Mize, National Center for State Courts, Arlington, VA; Richard P. Campbell, Esq., Campbell, Campbell, Edwards & Conroy, Charlestown; Paula L. Hannaford-Agor, National Center for State Courts, Williamsburg, VA; and Elizabeth N. Mulvey, Esq., Crowe & Mulvey LLP.