The University of Baltimore School of Law recently hosted From the Bench to the Bar: Unveiling the Voir Dire Pilot Program, a timely and substantive symposium examining Maryland’s Expanded Voir Dire Pilot Program and its potential impact on jury selection and the administration of justice across the state.
The symposium explored the policy and constitutional considerations surrounding both judge-led and attorney-led voir dire, while also offering practical insight into how expanded voir dire may influence trial strategy, the use of peremptory challenges, and decision-making during jury selection. Through lectures, moderated panels, and practitioner-focused discussions, participants engaged deeply with the evolving landscape of voir dire in Maryland courts.
The program brought together an accomplished group of professors, judges, and practitioners representing a wide range of legal perspectives. Highlights included a foundational lecture on voir dire in Maryland, panel discussions addressing constitutional and policy considerations, and a practitioner-focused session examining expanded voir dire in practice.
The Law School was especially honored to welcome Judge Laura Ripken, Chair of the Maryland Expanded Voir Dire Pilot Program Advisory Board, as the keynote speaker. Judge Ripken’s remarks provided valuable context for the pilot program and offered thoughtful insight into its development and potential implications for courts, litigators, and jurors alike.
The success of the symposium reflected the collaborative efforts of faculty, students, and staff. Led by Madison Hine, Class of '26, and Editor in Chief Michaela “Odi” Odian, Class of '26, the students created a program that fostered rigorous discussion and meaningful engagement.
The symposium underscored UBalt Law’s commitment to convening conversations that connect theory, practice, and policy, and to preparing students and practitioners to engage thoughtfully with important developments in the legal system.