When it comes to jury trials, juror education and outreach are critical components. This episode of Jury Talk features special guest John Ingrassia, a seasoned trial lawyer and legal advisor. John details his work with the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) on the School Jury Education Project, an initiative aimed at educating high school students about the justice system, the concept of jury trials, and the crucial role of jury service. Tune in as we delve into the project's potential to reach the jurors of tomorrow.

In this episode of Jury Talk, Judge Morris Hoffman, a scholar and experienced judge, delves into the complex world of peremptory challenges in jury selection; tracing their fascinating history from ancient England to modern America. Over time, he has developed a critical perspective on their use and potential for misuse, leading him to advocate for their abolition. This podcast serves as both a historical exploration and a thought-provoking critique, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to reform peremptory challenges and offering a compelling argument for a fundamental change. 

This episode of Jury Talk hosts the prolific Professor Paul Butler from Georgetown University. We delve into jury nullification - its historical roots, constitutional underpinnings, and its current day significance, particularly in relation to race. Butler, providing invaluable insights from his professional journey and personal experiences with jury nullification shares valuable lessons for all modern-day jury scholars.

Brooks Magratten is an experienced trial lawyer who has led recent efforts to update the American Bar Association's principles for juries and jury trials. This episode of Jury Talk includes discussion of the role of technology in jury trials, the challenge of ensuring diverse jury pools, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on jury trials, and the need for improved civic education. 

Arizona Superior Court Judge Pamela Fraser Gates grew up on an Iowa farm and declared, at age of 5, that she was going to detour from family farming to being a lawyer.  Over the course of time, she became an experienced litigator and now a path leader in improving how jury trials are conducted.  This podcast in several ways is a master class on how jury trial improvements can rise from the bottom up and top down. 

Jury studies and jury trial innovations started in earnest in the 1990s.  With the advancement of social science research and developments in legal doctrines, many jury trial caretakers are advocating for a new round of innovations.  Law school teachers have an important role in those efforts.  To learn more, Jury Talk spent some valuable time with Professor Nancy Marder, editor and author of “Juries in a Time of Crisis” and ‘The Power of the Jury: Transforming Citizens into Jurors.” 

Sometimes juries are required to view gruesome or shocking evidence. Jury trials can be tedious and long.  There can be concerns about safety and privacy. During jury selection a citizen may experience anxiety about the presence of media. In rare instances a jury may be kept away from the home during final deliberations.  After a verdict is rendered, there may be fear of retribution by the defendant or their friends. After a trial, a juror may feel stress symptoms or merely feel different or uncomfortable. Various courts are starting to address these concerns. In this Jury Talk episode, we chat with Massachusetts Jury Commissioner Pam Wood about what is being done in the Bay State to help burdened former jurors. 

Richard Gabriel is a highly experienced trial consultant.  As a Jury Talk guest, he explains, among other things, how consultants act as translators to help both attorneys and judges understand that there is a fundamental difference between how judges and attorneys think that juries make decisions and how juries actually make decisions. They provide a bridge between the court lingo and procedural processes and a lay person’s expectations, so that juries can fully understand evidence and make sound decisions. 

Tom Munsterman can justly be called the founder of modern jury studies. In a stroke of good luck for all jury trial managers, he evolved from being an electrical engineer to the “go to guy” for court administrators to solve trial management challenges. This episode of Jury Talk includes entertaining stories of things Tom has done for troubled trial courts and instructive lessons for today’s students of juries.