voir dire

Art

Morning Docket: 10.28.14

* Some observers do not appreciate the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Delphic pronouncements on a slew of hot-button issues. [New York Times] * The New York Court of Appeals does international banks a solid — but is it bad policy? [Reuters] * Fired Canadian radio host Jian Ghomeshi hires Dentons to sue CBC, which dismissed him over allegations of sexual misconduct. [American Lawyer] * Is post-Citizens United money polluting judicial elections? [New York Times via How Appealing] * An Englishman sues Sotheby’s, alleging that the auction house negligently failed to inform him that a painting he sold through Sotheby’s was by Caravaggio and worth millions. [BBC] * If you’re a lawyer looking for extra income, check out Avvo’s new service, which offers consumers on-demand legal advice for a fixed fee. [Law Sites via ABA Journal] * Is it reversible error for a judge to refuse to ask voir dire questions related to sexual-preference prejudices? [Southern District of Florida via How Appealing]

By David Lat
Crime

Elie Draws Jury Duty: Day One — Voir Dire

Elie Mystal has successfully avoided jury duty since he moved back to New York in 2003, but this week they finally caught up with him. This week, he had to perform his civic responsibility of sitting in judgment of his peers (like he doesn't do that enough already). Today he got an up-close look at the voir dire process in a criminal trial. While he was not picked, he feels like his McMurphy-esque fingerprints will be all over the case.

By Elie Mystal