No-Limit Texas Hold 'em, or, The Voir Dire in Dallas County

15 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2016

See all articles by Jeffrey Kahn

Jeffrey Kahn

Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Voir dire is Law French for “to speak the truth.” In the United States and a few other common-law countries that still use juries, the term describes the process of selecting jurors who will hear the evidence presented at trial, render a verdict, and sometimes determine punishment. The translation suggests a search for jurors who can render a fair and impartial verdict. Attorneys try to discover and remove jurors who seem unable or unlikely to speak the truth, such as those who nurture irrational prejudices or harbor private grievances.

In most federal courts, the judge is the primary conduit for interaction with the venire. In most state courts, attorneys enjoy more direct engagement with jurors. Naturally enough, lawyers like to select jurors who seem to like them, like their clients, or like their point of view (the trifecta is predictably rare). This seems perfectly reasonable to most observers. Jury consultants do a brisk trade.

Texas has juries and a Texan version of voir dire. I know. I had a front row seat (actually, seat number 39 out of 77) for a two-day voir dire in the 194th District Court of Dallas County, the Honorable Ernest White presiding. I knew just enough theory to be a danger to the attorneys who questioned me. I had no knowledge of local practice. My conception of voir dire – memories from a clerkship in a federal district court in Manhattan – was jarred by the experience.

This Essay dissects the transcript of that voir dire, which recorded my reactions. The transcript also recorded, I hasten to add, the reactions of the judge, district attorney and defense counsel, all of whom exhibited great skill and agility in the courtroom. As the transcript shows, we didn’t always see eye to eye on the process in which we played our different roles.

Keywords: voir dire, Texas, evidence, litigation

Suggested Citation

Kahn, Jeffrey, No-Limit Texas Hold 'em, or, The Voir Dire in Dallas County (2010). Green Bag 2d, Vol. 13, No. 4, 2010, SMU Dedman School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 279, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2794114

Jeffrey Kahn (Contact Author)

Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 750116
Dallas, TX 75275
United States
(214) 768-2792 (Phone)
(214) 768-4330 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: https://www.smu.edu/Law/Faculty/Profiles/Kahn-Jeffrey

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