_edited_edi.png){kind=logo}
Post-Verdict Interviews
Discover Why a Jury Reached Their Verdict
After a verdict, jurors often tell you what they think you want to hear, or filter their comments through social considerations. Where allowed by law, telephone interviews by a Tsongas consultant allow jurors to relate their true feelings. You can discover why and how the jury reached its verdict, and develop insight and strategy for future trials and similar cases.
Post-Verdict Interviews
In some cases, post-verdict juror interviews allow you to compile information that may be relevant in an appeal.
Discover why a jury reached the verdict it did and how jurors evaluated specific evidence, witnesses, arguments, and theories.
Develop strategic insight for future trials and development of strategy for similar cases. Compile information which may be relevant in an appeal.
Post-Trial Research Design
An experienced interviewer uses a systematic protocol of open-ended questions designed to elicit information about the process and content of the jury deliberations as experienced by each juror. Both general and case-specific items are covered. Jurors are interviewed individually either by telephone or in-person. The post-trial juror interview should be done as soon as possible after the completion of the trial, while the case facts and deliberation process is still fresh in jurors’ minds. Some courts prohibit or restrict post-trial juror interviews. Care must be taken to ensure all local and state rules are followed, and juror’s rights are respected at all times.
Post-Trial Juror Research Deliverables
Counsel is provided with a report summarizing the findings, and the nature of the contact of each juror (interviewed, refused, unable to contact, etc.). Verbatim transcripts of each juror’s post trial interview responses to the debriefing questions may be provided at additional cost, if requested.
The Role of Counsel
Counsel provides case-relevant information, a list of witnesses, case events of concern and the names and telephone numbers of the jurors to be contacted for interview. This requires a decision to be made prior to the conclusion of the trial so that accurate information can be obtained. Counsel also works closely with Tsongas to assure coverage of key issues in the juror interview protocol.