Susan E. Jones, Ph.D.
Founder
Susan E. Jones, Ph.D. is the founder of Jury Research Institute.
Dr. Jones is a licensed psychologist and nationally recognized expert on juror behavior. An active writer and researcher in the area of voir dire and jury selection since 1980, articles by Dr. Jones on social science in the courtroom have appeared in numerous legal and psychological journals. In the mid-1980’s she was awarded a research grant from the National Institute of Justice. She undertook pioneering research to study whether jurors give more truthful answers when questioned by a judge or an attorney during voir dire. Her research established empirical support for the superiority of attorney-conducted voir dire in eliciting honest replies from jurors about their attitudes, beliefs and personal experiences. Her research contributed to the successful effort to preserve attorney voir dire in civil litigation in California.
For over 25 years Dr. Jones has successfully assisted litigators involved in virtually every area of civil litigation including product liability, commercial litigation, employment claims (discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge and breach of contract), intellectual property, professional liability, construction defects, personal injury, toxic tort, and many others. She has provided assistance on some of the most significant litigation in the country serving litigators from San Francisco to New York.
Dr. Jones is a much sought after speaker, known for her lively, informative approach to teaching advocacy skills. She is a member of the faculty of the Professional Education Group which conducts training seminars across the country. She has been an invited speaker at literally hundreds of local, state and national bar association meetings across the country. She holds bachelor and doctoral degrees in psychology from St. Lawrence University and the University of Alabama and is the former Associate Editor for Law and Psychology Review.
