Justice Sylvia Ash delivers keynote address at Brooklyn Bar
Association Continuing Legal Education conference.
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Caribbean justices Sylvia G.
Ash and Ruth Shillingford were
the keynote speakers at a Continuing
Legal Education Program
sponsored by the Brooklyn
Bar Association and the
Judicial Friends Association on
Feb. 7.
Justice Ash, who was born
in Trinidad and Tobago to Vincentian
and Grenadian parents,
told Caribbean Life that
she and Justice Shillingford, a
native of Dominica, spoke on
“Issues Arising in Jury Selection
and Deliberation in Criminal
and Civil Court.”
Justice Ash is the Presiding
Justice of the Commercial Division
in Kings County Supreme
Court.
Justice Shillingford is
the president of the Judicial
Friends Association and an acting
supreme court judge in
Kings County Criminal Court.
Justice Ash said they both
spoke on the challenges of
selecting a jury and issues that
may arise during jury deliberations.
She said the packed audience
comprised practicing attorneys
from both the civil and criminal
Bar.
Justice Ash said “this was a
very important topic given the
fact that Kings County has the
largest jury system in New York
State and in the entire United
States.
“In New York State, once
served, it is mandatory that
you report for jury duty and
that there are no exceptions or
waivers,” she said, stating that,
each year, over 1 million jury
questionnaires are mailed out
to potential jurors who are residents
of Kings County.
In 2018, Kings County
Supreme Court alone conducted
about 1,000 Civil jury trials,
Justice Ash said.
Before starting the lecture,
Brooklyn Bar Association President
David Chidekel gave a nod
to the importance of judicial
independence, according to the
Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
“Judges without their independence
cannot do their jobs
equitably and fairly,” Chidekel
said. “And I want to thank
these two particular judges
who have lately stood up and
exercised their independence
for the benefit of all the citizens
of Brooklyn.”
The Daily Eagle said Justice
Shillingford began by explaining
how she carries out her voir
dire process and how it differs
from the civil proceeding.
In criminal court, the judge
is involved through the entire
voir dire process, the Eagle
said.
According to Law.com, voir
dire originates from
from French, meaning literally
“to see to speak.”
The process involves the
questioning of prospective
jurors by a judge and attorneys
in court.
Law.com said voir dire is
used to determine if any juror
is biased and/or cannot deal
with the issues fairly, or if there
is cause not to allow a juror to
serve (knowledge of the facts;
acquaintanceship with parties,
witnesses or attorneys; occupation
which might lead to bias;
prejudice against the death
penalty; or previous experiences
such as having been sued in
a similar case).
After the preliminary screening
with the attorneys, Justice
Shillingford, according to the
Eagle, typically puts 26 potential
jurors in the box, uses a
questionnaire, gives the attorneys
the opportunity to inquire
and then allows challenges for
cause.
“So, we are all in, in terms
of the judge’s role in that process,”
the Eagle quoted her as
saying.
Caribbean justices keynote
legal education program
/Law.com
/Law.com