BarbriSFCourseDetails
  • videocam Live Online with Live Q&A
  • calendar_month November 20, 2025 @ 1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Ethics and Specialty Credits
  • schedule 90 minutes

Beyond Batson: Challenges in Eliminating Jury Selection Bias

Batson Framework, Comparative Juror Analysis, Jurisdictional Reforms, Impartiality Techniques

$197.00

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE
ALL
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Description

The expert panel will cover jurisdiction-specific reforms reshaping voir dire. Washington's GR 37, California's CCP §231.7 (AB 3070), and Arizona's elimination of peremptory challenges altogether exemplify ongoing post-Batson adjustments within the legal system to eliminate bias in jury selection. The panel will discuss best practices in using and managing questionnaires, record-building, and comparative analysis meant to withstand appellate scrutiny.

Listen as our panel shares scenarios and hypotheticals, models effective objections and voir dire questions, and covers preserving error and rebutting "race-neutral" pretexts.  

Presented By

Emily McDonald
Litigation Consultant
Bloom Strategic Consulting, Inc

Dr. McDonald uses social science to identify the factors that effect and influence juror decision-making in the courtroom. She has critically analyzed data produced in over 100 mock jury studies conducted nationwide and translates the findings revealed in each jury study to offer insight and understanding to counsel about the way trial jurors will likely view the case. Dr. McDonald provides strategic implications and recommendations to refine and effectively communicate case strategy and key case concepts.

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Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Thursday, November 20, 2025

  • schedule

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

I. Introduction

II. Batson’s framework, where it works, where it lacks

III. Jurisdictional shifts: states move to further define, fill gaps

III. Tools and toolkits: comparative juror analysis, demeanor, and pretext

IV. Building the record: scripts, checklists, objections, and exhibits

V. Hypotheticals/scenarios

VI. Practitioner takeaways

The panel will discuss these and other important topics:

  • The three-step Batson framework (prima facie showing, race-neutral explanation, pretext determination) and common difficulties
  • Using comparative juror analysis effectively
  • Understanding jurisdictional reforms (e.g., Washington, California, and Arizona)
  • Drafting voir dire questions and juror questionnaires that surface bias while preserving challenges
  • Making timely, supported objections and responses