For two decades, Charlotte Morris has immersed herself in the behaviors of a jury. From the decision making behaviors of the human condition to the trial preparation necessary for today's courtrooms, Morris works alongside legal teams and they set out to prove their cases. But she's so much more than that. She teaches teams of lawyers what to do - and what not to do - when selecting a jury. Her approach from a psychological mindset is an invaluable resource in the courtroom.
Morris received dual bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Applied Behavioral Sciences. She graduated magna cum laude in 1992 from the University of Kansas. She then secured her master's degree in Litigation Science, graduating summa cum laude in 1993. She's a member of Phi Beta Kappa as well.
Her foundation for her legal teams includes the advice of reducing the ''social distance'' between the jury and themselves, resisting the natural habit to talk too much about themselves, resisting the inclination of asking a juror personal questions without laying the foundation of a case, not over-crafting juror questions, resisting the urge to get inside the jury's collective minds too early and to trust one's instincts. These tips have benefited lawyers across the nation for many years.
Ask Morris about the worst common jury selection mistakes, and she's ready, courtesy of her many after-verdict interviews with jurors on cases involving white crime, murder, drug trafficking and everything in between. She takes this information and uses it to teach lawyers what is effective and what is not worth their time. Morris believes underestimating a juror, his ability to follow the complex legalities and his belief process on any topic is the ''final nail in the coffin'' when it comes to losing a jury through the course of a trial.
When Morris isn't advising lawyers on the psychology of a jury, she's hosting workshops, serving on numerous faculties of trial advocacy colleges and is often a guest speaker at bar association conferences, Inns of Court and many other continuing education programs and seminars.
There's no doubt Charlotte Morris has changed the way juries are chosen in the country. Lawyers across the nation have come to rely on her and many credit her uncanny abilities for their trial victories. For more information on Charlotte Morris and her North Carolina team at Litigation & Communication Consultants, visit the website at Trial-Prep.com.
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