The Psychology of Today's Juries: What Makes Them Tick? Are They Really Your Peers?

Everyone has a story. The inexplicable "nuclear" verdict in a matter reliant upon junk science. The unexpected "no-cause" in the case you would have settled before the close of fact discovery. The jury panel from Mars that simply does not or, perhaps worse, cannot relate to or understand the case before it.

Each of these scenarios raises a multitude of questions: How has our jury pool changed? What does a "jury of your peers" really mean to the parties who are forced to entrust the system? What makes them act in a particular way? And most importantly, what do we need to know before our next jury trial to identify the right jurors (and perhaps more importantly, eliminate the bad), capture their attention, and drive home our message?

This panel will offer lessons learned from leading trial consultants, trial lawyers, and corporate counsel who share their thoughts and analysis of critical societal changes, data trends, and psychological factors that will help us better understand today's jury pools, how they learn and digest key evidence, and what makes them act in a certain way – all of which increases the odds of securing a "jury of your client's peers," enhances your ability to prepare and present evidence/witnesses more effectively, and hammer home your trial themes and messaging in a manner that sticks.