Is this you before voir dire: “You're nervous, you've got a million things on your mind, you've lost 14 motions you wanted to win, and now you've got to question these people to find out who's going to kill you.” That’s the scenario that many lawyers find themselves in, suggests influential trial consultant David Ball, whose groundbreaking books like "David Ball on Damages 3" revolutionized plaintiff advocacy. In this conversation with hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer, David shares his strategies for putting aside fear and instead embracing “the privilege that you should enjoy having.” Tune in for his insights about why lawyers should practice before jury selection, how connecting with jurors on a human level puts you “ahead of the game,” and what the all-purpose follow-up question – "tell me about that" – reveals about jurors.

☑️ David Ball | LinkedIn

☑️ Malekpour & Ball

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

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Episode sponsored by Tisa Film and Baldwin Settlements.

From Ibiere Seck's approach to making jurors feel valued, to Steve Vartazarian's mantra to “choose topics wisely,” to Gary Dordick's strategy for timing bias discussions, this episode of “Picking Justice” compiles the best moments from the podcast’s first 12 episodes. In addition to their wisdom, tune in for insights from Lourdes DeArmas, Ricardo Echeverria, Joe Fried, Arash Homampour, Khail Parris, Claire Plotkin, Bob Simon and the hosts themselves: Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer. And come back for future episodes with conversations that could change your next verdict.

☑️ Ibiere Seck | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook

☑️ Ricardo Echeverria I LinkedIn

☑️ Steve Vartazarian | LinkedIn

☑️ Gary Dordick | LinkedIn | Instagram

☑️ Claire Plotkin | LinkedIn | X

☑️ Arash Homampour | LinkedIn

☑️ Joe Fried | LinkedIn

☑️ Bob Simon | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website 2

☑️ Lourdes DeArmas | LinkedIn

☑️ Khail Parris | LinkedIn

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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"The most important cause challenge is your first cause challenge," says Khail Parris, who holds the record in Van Nuys with 53 cause challenges in a single trial. Fresh off a $58 million slip-and-fall verdict and a $7.1 million win against LAUSD, Khail joins hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer to reveal his systematic approach to jury selection. He breaks down his "warts mini-opening" strategy, explains why he fights for questionnaires in every case, and shares his unconventional method for anchoring damages when judges won't let him mention specific numbers. 

☑️ Khail Parris | LinkedIn

☑️ Parris Law Firm | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Motion Lit, 4 Corners and Baldwin Settlements.

In a post-COVID world, jurors respond to different questions – and smart lawyers will adapt to account for the change. Lourdes DeArmas, lead trial attorney at  Omega Law Group, shares this observation with hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer. “They want to see a lot more.They don't want generalizations,” she explains. Tune in for Lourdes’ strategies for handling "normal-looking" plaintiffs, addressing juror concerns that non-economic damages are a “payday,” and leveraging individual rather than group questions to get jurors talking.

☑️ Lourdes DeArmas | LinkedIn

☑️ Omega Law Group | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Motion Lit, 4 Corners and Baldwin Settlements.

"Don't run from your bad facts but embrace them," says Bob Simon, whose book “Trying Disc Injury Cases: Defeating the Degeneration Defense” reveals how he’s embraced cases where clients were injured in light rear-end crashes. “The book is how to diffuse all those bombs, from intake through discovery through trial, and how to reframe the case,” he explains to hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer. Tune in for Bob’s insights about why addressing negative facts head-on during jury selection creates credibility with conservative jurors and how anchoring your damages number early pays off. 

☑️ Bob Simon | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website 2

☑️ The Simon Law Group | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Motion Lit, 4 Corners and Baldwin Settlements.

"Trial law is a game of psychology at some level," says Joe Fried, renowned as the "Godfather of Trucking Cases" who's litigated in 43 states. Regardless of the venue, he focuses on universally shared values in jury selection. “The magic of doing what we do is to build a case around the things that make us the same, not the things that make us different. That’s what jury selection is,” he explains to hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer. One shared value: Keeping your oath. “When that juror says, ‘I'm going to follow my oath even if I have to hold my nose.’ Are you throwing that guy off or not? I'm not.”

☑️ Joe Fried | LinkedIn

☑️ Fried Goldberg | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | X

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

☑️ Kramer Trial Lawyers on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

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Episode sponsored by Motion Lit, 4 Corners and Baldwin Settlements.

“What are your thoughts?” jury consultant Harry Plotkin is fond of asking potential jurors. He likes that question because it’s not “yes or no.” But it’s just the beginning. Tune in for Harry to explain the “hard part.” And learn a technique from Dan Kramer that helps jurors express where they fall on a spectrum rather than forcing binary choices. The hosts also describe why saying "uphill battle" works better than asking if someone is "biased" and offer practical approaches for identifying jurors who might undervalue claims from elderly plaintiffs, immigrants, or those with preexisting conditions. 

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

☑️ Kramer Trial Lawyers on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

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Episode sponsored by Baldwin Settlements and Verdict Videos.

"I do not reject good cases," says Arash Homampour, responding to a joke from hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer that he seeks only the toughest liability situations. Known for winning eight-figure verdicts in cases other attorneys might avoid, Arash breaks down his authentic approach to jury selection. He explains why he addresses bad facts head-on, avoids over-selling his case during voir dire, and believes in creating an environment where jurors feel comfortable sharing their honest opinions. "You want people to spew the poison now, not later," Arash advises, reminding attorneys that identifying biased jurors early is crucial to successful outcomes.

☑️ Arash Homampour | LinkedIn

☑️ The Homampour Law Firm | LinkedIn | Facebook |  Instagram

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Baldwin Settlements and Verdict Videos.

In jury selection, many attorneys focus solely on getting cause challenges. But jury consultant Claire Plotkin brings a fresh perspective on framing "bias" to the conversation with hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer. She explains that telling jurors they're "biased" can backfire – especially in cases where potential jurors' strong feelings might actually benefit plaintiffs. "In today's society, jurors are so ready to be inflamed that they're actually better for plaintiffs," Claire notes. Tune in to learn why sympathy isn't bias, how to protect your good jurors from defense challenges, and why Claire believes voir dire is about learning, not just eliminating jurors through cause challenges.

☑️ Claire Plotkin | LinkedIn | X

☑️ Justice One Trial at a Time

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer  | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Baldwin Settlements and Verdict Videos.

Gary Dordick wanted to know why the sole juror voted against him, so he asked her after trial. Turns out, he reminded her of her ex-husband, so she didn’t believe a word he said.

“Okay, but, Ma’am, why didn't you tell me that when we were picking the jury?” Gary wondered.  “Oh,” she responded, “you never asked.”

Gary tells this cautionary tale to hosts Harry Plotkin and Dan Kramer in an episode devoted to jury selection tips and lessons gained through his winning career. The founder of Dordick Law Corporation, Gary shares stories from the courtroom, such as his early tendency to entertain prospective jurors at the expense of learning about them. Tune in for his insights about using questionnaires and leveraging nuanced questions to reveal bias.

☑️ Gary Dordick | LinkedIn | Instagram

☑️ Dordick Law Corporation | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok | X | YouTube |

☑️ Harry Plotkin | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

☑️ Dan Kramer | LinkedIn 

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Episode sponsored by Baldwin Settlements and Verdict Videos.