Jury Selection: Strategies for Uncovering and Addressing Bias on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity

Laurel Purewal, JD | JuryScope

Laurel Purewal has been a Senior Trial Consultant with JuryScope for over 20 years. Having extensive experience in the industry, she has seen trial consulting develop from a fledgling industry, into a litigation tool widely accepted and embraced by attorneys for every type of case, large and small. Ms. Purewal specializes in complex civil litigation, including patent and copyright infringement, breach of contract, unfair business practices and antitrust cases. Her work in a variety of areas has allowed Ms. Purewal to draw insightful and productive parallels between cases that can help the trial team better reach jurors with the facts of their case.

Ms. Purewal has broad experience in developing research methodologies and conducting research through mock trials, litigation focus groups and opening statement analysis. Her extensive knowledge of data gathering, analytic techniques and group moderation, combined with her legal knowledge and direct communication skills provides her with a unique perspective in analyzing research results and an ability to provide clients with striking insights in case strategy and themes.

Ms. Purewal thrives when engaged with a trial team early in litigation and likes to become an integral part of the team. In fact, she has broad experience observing trials, fully immersing herself with a team, providing feedback at the end of each trial day, preparing witnesses throughout trial, assisting in the development of direct and cross examinations, opening statements and closing arguments. Ms. Purewal has a wealth of experience developing jury voir dire and juror questionnaires, providing jury selection assistance and conducting post-trial juror interviews, when permitted.

She has extensive experience preparing witnesses for deposition and trial, from fact and corporate witnesses to expert witnesses. She is skilled at translating challenging technical topics to simplify them for non-technical jurors and assisting technical experts to communicate clearly and effectively to jurors from all walks of life and education. Even in the civil realm, many cases call for the discussion of sensitive topics by a witness. Ms. Purewal’s pragmatic and sensitive approach to these individuals has proven invaluable for teams addressing such topics.

Ms. Purewal graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She earned a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law and practiced in California before joining JuryScope. She is an inactive member of the State Bar of California. Additionally, Ms. Purewal has served as a panelist and as a CLE lecturer on a variety of topics. She is based in California.

Lynn Fahey, Ph.D. | JuryScope

Dr. Lynn Fahey is a seasoned trial consultant with JuryScope, bringing a sharp analytical eye and strategic insight to every case she touches. With experience on more than 100 high-stakes cases, she specializes in pre-trial research, trial preparation, jury selection, and large-scale data analysis, helping legal teams craft compelling narratives that resonate with jurors.

A trusted advisor in the courtroom, Dr. Fahey has designed custom research studies tailored to the unique challenges of each case. Whether leading multi-city venue comparison studies, online mock trials, voir dire simulations, or large-scale juror opinion surveys, she ensures her clients gain the most reliable, case-specific insights to inform their trial strategies.

Beyond research, Dr. Fahey excels at translating complex legal arguments into clear, persuasive stories for jurors. She works closely with attorneys to refine opening statements and closing arguments, prepare witnesses for trial, and develop impactful trial graphics. She is also well on her way to an “EGOT of witness prep,” having successfully coached both an Emmy and an Oscar-winning witness for trial.

A respected thought leader in the field, Dr. Fahey regularly lectures, publishes, and leads CLE presentations on juror perceptions and bias. She holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Sociology from Rice University and earned her B.A. in Psychology with honors from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. In addition to her consulting work, she serves as an adjunct professor of Sociology and Criminology a Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Though based in California, Dr. Fahey remains deeply connected to Texas, where she frequently spends time both personally and professionally.

I. Understanding race, gender, and ethnicity in the U.S. | 1:00pm –1:10pm

• Examining the definitions of race, gender, and ethnicity, and how these characteristics vary across different regions of the country in terms of demographics, identity, and social perceptions

II. Recognizing the variation in juror opinions over time and throughout the U.S. |1:10pm – 1:20pm

• Recognizing the vast differences in juror opinions in different regions of the United States and that these opinions change over time is a cornerstone in overcoming the biases these opinions represent. Developing different trial and voir dire strategies based on these differences is a key component in preparing for trial

III. Recognizing the impact of gender on bias | 1:20pm – 1:30pm

• Gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation influence juror perceptions, decision-making, and credibility assessments. Understanding how societal expectations, personal experiences, and biases shape these views can help attorneys refine voir dire strategies and jury selection

IV. Detecting and mitigating implicit bias in voir dire | 1:30pm –1:40pm

• Understanding how unconscious biases influence juror decision making and how attorneys can address them through questioning strategies

V. Crafting voir dire questions to expose bias | 1:40pm – 1:50pm

• Developing open-ended, targeted questions to uncover potential biases related to race, gender, and ethnicity

VI. Challenging jurors and ethical strategies | 1:50pm – 2:00pm

• Exploring best practices for making and defending challenges for cause and peremptory strikes while complying with Batson v. Kentucky