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Escambia County Courthouse,
First Judicial Circuit, Pensacola, Florida
See Old
District Courthouse
See New
District Courthouse
See New County Courthouse
Although a new Escambia County Courthouse
has recently been constructed, the 1887 courthouse was restored
to its original appearance in 1999. The structure was originally
built for a cost of $200,000 and served as the United States
Custom House and Post Office. It now houses administrative
offices.
Case Specific Voir Dire
Over the past decade, social scientists and legal scholars
have conducted
considerable research on the ability of jurors' answers
to voir dire
questions to predict verdict. This research has consistently
revealed that
jurors' answers to case specific questions are the best
indications of
jurors' predispositions. The next best predictor of
jurors' predispositions
are personality based questions that provide a view into jurors'
underlying
characteristics. Research has also shown jurors' demographic
characteristics to be the worst predictors of verdict. The
reason
demographics are poor predictors of verdict is obvious: people
who share
demographic traits are fundamentally different as individuals.
Nothing,
including using sophisticated computer software designed to
profile jurors
based on their demographic characteristics, can replace a
thoughtful voir
dire approach that assesses how jurors respond to the key
case issues.
Contact Magnus to obtain a complimentary publication
on voir dire mistakes and how to avoid them. |
