Unlike juries of yesterday, today’s jury pool has a wealth of information at its fingertips, owing to the modern information highway. Regardless of generational characteristics baby boomers are characterized by their individuality, idealism and willingness to work their way up the ladder; Generation X-ers by their distaste for authority and self-sufficiency; and millennials, the children of helicopter parents, have a sense of entitlement, are well-educated and respect authority without being in awe of it those who compose a contemporary jury pool tend to have shorter attention spans, higher expectations in terms of drama and entertainment in the courtroom, and of course, increased access to a constant stream of information thanks largely to reality television and the influx of necessary devises.
Trial attorneys have three opportunities to specifically reach out and make a direct connection with these plugged-in jurors: voir dire, opening statements and closing statements. Each is vitally important and not a single one may be left to chance. To take full advantage of each of these opportunities to win the hearts and minds of your jurors, your message must be consistent and clearly articulated from the beginning.
