Posted: - July 22, 2009

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    More than 15 years ago, in June 1994, I was invited to speak at a seminar sponsored by the Louisiana Judicial College.  This was my debut for the College and I was honored but apprehensive.  The subject was Jury Selection Under Batson; therefore, the focus of the presentation was the role of the district court judge in addressing objections under Batson v. Kentucky, Georgia v. McCollum and the newest case at that time to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, JEB v. Alabama.  Joining me on this panel were Judge Melvin Shortess, First Circuit Court of Appeal, and Cheney Joseph, Professor of Law at LSU Law School and Executive Director of the Louisiana Judicial College. 

    Since 1994, I have had the honor of speaking at literally dozens of seminars sponsored by the Louisiana Judicial College and, of course, the jurisprudence in the area of peremptory challenges, Batson and its progeny, has continued to evolve and develop, the most recent and significant of which is Miller-El v. Dretke.

    The quality of the 15 year old film is outweighed by the historical perspective of the law and the excellent presentations by colleague and fine jurist, Melvin Shortess, and preeminent law professor, Cheney Joseph (who taught me criminal law at LSU Law School in 1977).

    To see the 1994 video lecture, press play; to read the most recent outline on Miller-El and its progeny go to the seminars tab, Capital Voir Dire After Miller-El 2009.  Civil litigators: this very important area of law applies to voir dire in civil jury trials, as well!

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