Writing jury voir dire has got to be the bane of an official court reporter's existence. Below are three different jury voir dire brief systems used by three different officials. Hope one works for you, or you can mix and match.
Sample I
Submitted by Paige Moser, CSR, RMR, CRR Los Angeles Superior Court
I like to have one-strike briefs for colloquy. One of the easiest ways to define different speakers in the courtroom is using the answer bar with a few key letters on the left-hand side of the keypad. For instance:
KL-FRPBLGTS = THE CLERK
BL-FRPBLGTS = THE BAILIFF
D-FRPBLGTS = THE DEFENDANT
I use something similar for jury voir dire. I use my written-out numbers with the answer bank to define prospective jurors. In my main dictionary, they are defined as follows:
WU*N
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 1
TW*O
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 2
THR*E
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 3
FO*ER
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 4
and then for the six pack when choosing the alternates:
THROA*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 13
FRAO*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 14
FOA*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 15
SKAO*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 16
SFAO*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 17
AO*EN
PROSPECTIVE ALTERNATE JUROR NO. 18
I then have created a Jury Dictionary. Into that dictionary I have copied these same entries, but they are redefined as Juror No. 1, Juror No. 2, Juror No. 3, up through Juror No. 12 only, and Alternate Juror No. 1 through 4, etc. After a jury has been sworn, then I apply my Jury Dictionary from that point forward, and the juror indications come out correctly. (Remember to define all of your misstrokes into your Jury Dictionary as well.)
Sample II
Submitted by Janice Scott, CSR, RPR, CRR Alameda County Superior Court
I have identified each juror seat with one stroke and alternate
juror seats with two.
The following are the briefs I use when identifying a juror:
STKPWHROPB
JUROR NUMBER 1
STKPWHRAO
JUROR NUMBER 2
STKPWHRAE
JUROR NUMBER 3
STKPWHROR
JUROR NUMBER 4
STKPWHREUF
JUROR NUMBER 5
STKPWHREUBGS
JUROR NUMBER 6
STKPWHREFPB
JUROR NUMBER 7
STKPWHRAEUT
JUROR NUMBER 8
STKPWHRAOEUPB
JUROR NUMBER 9
STKPWHREPB
JUROR NUMBER 10
STKPWHR*EFPB
JUROR NUMBER 11
STKPWHREFL
JUROR NUMBER 12
STKPWHROPB
ALTERNATE JUROR NUMBER 1
STKPWHRAO
ALTERNATE JUROR NUMBER 2
STKPWHRAE
ALTERNATE JUROR NUMBER 3
STKPWHROR
ALTERNATE JUROR NUMBER 4
Sample III
Submitted by Pam Fisk, CSR San Mateo County Superior Court
Hit each stroke twice to indicate juror:
PRUPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 1
PRAO
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 2
PRAOE
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 3
PROER
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 4
PRAOEUF
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 5
PREUBGS
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 6
PREF
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 7
PRAEUT
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 8
PRAOEUPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 9
PREPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 10
PHREF
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 11
PREL
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 12
PREURPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 13
PROERPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 14
PRAOEPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 15
PRAOEBGS
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 16
PRAOEFS
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 17
PRAEUPB
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 18
WAULT
ALTERNATE NO. 1
TAULT
ALTERNATE NO. 2
THRALT
ALTERNATE NO. 3
TPAULT
ALTERNATE NO. 4
TPRAULT
ALTERNATE NO. 5
SALT
ALTERNATE NO. 6
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