2nd Chair Services
2nd Chair Services is owned and operated by Jury Consultant Toni Blake, JD, MA. We have participated in over 1500 criminal and civil cases across the nation. We have been in business for 15+ years and have selected juries, prepped witnesses and advised counsel in a wide variety of different types of cases. Toni is a psychology professor with a law degree and has used her degrees to assist in the tactical planning and jury selection of many high profile trials.
Toni has served as a commentator for Court TV, CNN, FOX, MSNBC and numerous local TV and radio shows. Her cases have been featured on Dateline, 48 hours, Forensic files, ABC Prime Time, Wolf Blitzer and in various other news articles and programs.
In 2007 Toni selected the jury and advised counsel for Lucent Technologies during a trial against Microsoft over the MP3 patent. The case resulted in largest patent law verdict in world history.
Microsoft hit with $1.5 billion patent verdict
Later that year she worked on the second Lucent v. Microsoft trial with John Demarias and the team from Kirkland and Ellis which resulted in a $367.4 million verdict.
$367.4 million in damages awarded to Alcatel-Lucent.
Toni has served on the faculty of the Defense Investigators Training Academy, the Monterey Death Penalty college and has spoken more than 50 times for public defender organizations and civil law groups.
Inmate is free after 21 years in prison
Man acquitted in son's death | Clash between judge, defense lawyer left mark on stormy trial
Father not guilty in death, jury says.
Her work on false allegations of child abuse has been featured in Discover magazine, the Chicago Union Tribune and on various TV documentaries.
Discover Magazine. "The Shaken Baby Debate" by Mark Anderson.
Chicago Tribune. "Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Search for Truth" by Lee Scheier.
She is featured in the true crime novel Pointing From The Grave by Samantha Wienberg and has served as a technical advisor on criminal pathology for various books and TV shows.
2nd Chair Services provides the following legal support services:
- Voir dire questions or questionnaires specific to your case
- Jury Selection
- Tactical and litigation strategies
- Profiles of the best jurors for your case
- Jury personality profiles of seated jurors
- Witness preparation
- Theme analysis
- Focus groups and mock juries
- Team building exercises
- Psychodramas and role playing
- Expert referrals
- Power points or trial director - loading or in court assistance
- Scanning/formatting and digital media
- Videos and graphics
- Public relations/press releases and packages
- Web seminars and training
- Penalty phase consultation in death penalty cases.
