What Are They Really Saying? Listening Skills in Voir Dire

During voir dire, the most important concern for criminal defense attorneys is getting prospective jurors to express true feelings. In the quest for a juror’s truth, defense counsel must create a connection with that juror. Jason Sosa writes that the key to success in voir dire is reflective listening, which involves defense counsel trying to understand a juror’s viewpoint and then communicating that perspective back to the juror to assure the juror that it was understood.