Greg Cusimano on Jury Bias

Greg Cusimano has been practicing law for over fifty- years and has spent the past twenty-five studying the social science behind group decision-making, as well as and different kinds of biases. In this interview, Cusimano, a co-author of Winning Case Preparation: Understanding Jury Bias, explains how the Jury Bias Model and Bottom-Up Preparation can help you determine whether or not to take a case and how to best present case facts to a jury.  Cusimano explains that the Jury Bias Model is designed to give lawyers a way to analyze the facts of their case to better decipher its strengths and weaknesses. He points out that bias can be both conscious and unconscious, and it influences jurors' reactions and decision-making. For the sake of your case’s outcome, it is crucial to understand how to identify and navigate your jury’s bias. Cusimano discusses the five types of jury bias:  Suspicion Victimization Personal responsibility Stuff happens Blame the plaintiff If the facts of your case