Appellate and litigation partner John O’Herron is participating as a panelist during a Civil Breakout Session at the 2026 Bench-Bar Conference hosted by the Richmond Bar Association. Speaking alongside Hon. Mary Malveaux, Judge, Court of Appeals of Virginia, Hon. Jayne Pemberton, Judge, 12th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, Hon. Victoria Willis, Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, Courtney Leigh Winston, Esq., Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen, and Brendan O’Toole, Esq., Williams Mullen, John’s session will cover topics such as voir dire, motions practice, jury instructions, and appellate considerations.
Session description: Jury trials are won—or lost—long before the jury begins deliberating, and the smallest procedural misstep can become the biggest appellate headache. This panel provides a practical toolkit for navigating the critical stages of a civil jury trial, from effective voir dire, strikes for cause, peremptory challenges and Batson issues to motions practice and jury instructions. Along the way, we’ll highlight practical tips for making the record, preserving objections, and avoiding common pitfalls that can derail an otherwise successful trial.
The Bench-Bar Conference is hosted annually to promote discussion on issues of interest to both local judges and lawyers and foster an environment where each can offer reactions and feedback. The format features breakout sessions allowing groups of judges and lawyers to actively discuss topics of interest in their individual areas of practice.
