The Great Recession's Impact On Your Jury

Dec. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES, CALIF.--A recent Pew Center Research study showing the Great Recession has impacted segments of the population differently can be of great value when selecting today's juries, says Dr. Noelle Nelson, a trial consultant for more than 20 years for both plaintiff and defense.

   The September 24, 2010 study found that 55 percent of the population is experiencing considerable hardship including unemployment, missed mortgages, smaller paychecks and other personal financial adversity. The remaining 45 percent, however, is riding out the recession with much less difficulty, experiencing only minor hardship.
   
   Among the key findings: generally, about seven-in-10 retirees and other older adults largely held their own during the recession, seven-in-10 millennials (20-somethings) experienced the reverse, experiencing much hardship. Suburban and rural dwellers had a less rough go of it than city dwellers. A college degree matters: about six-in-10 college graduates count themselves among the 45 percent who experienced fewer difficulties during the recession, compared to only 38 percent of those whose educational attainment was a high school diploma or less.

   "Be aware of these findings as you go about selecting your jurors," says Nelson. "A  20-something without a college degree who is experiencing many financial difficulties may be more sour and ungenerous than most college-educated individuals who typically have not faced as many hardships. Retirees who are holding their own with relative ease may be financially cautious (as is often true for older jurors), but not dour or completely closed off to large awards."

   For more trial techniques, go to Nelson's blog, "A Winning Tip," http://awinningtip.blogspot.com, or for her articles and books, http://www.noellenelson.com/Trial_Consulting.cfm.

For more information on the Pew Report, go to http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1741/recession-poll-most-lost....

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Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D., is a trial and business consultant who provides trial/jury strategy, witness preparation and focus groups for attorneys. She is the author of the booklet, "101 Winning Tips: How to Give a Good Deposition and Testify Well in Court." Her published books include "A Winning Case" (Prentice Hall) and "Connecting With Your Client" (American Bar Association). www.dr.noellenelson.com, e-mail: nnelson@dr.noellenelson.com