Ms. Beyers is a social psychologist with special expertise in jury selection, voir dire, witness preparation, shadow jury research, courtroom communication and graphics, and developing winning trial strategies. She combines training in statistics with expert knowledge of qualitative research methods and analysis.
Marissa has selected numerous juries, interviewed hundreds of jurors, and conducted a wide range of pre-trial and trial research including survey, focus group, shadow jury, and mock trial research. She has also consulted on a number of high exposure cases where she has worked hand in hand with trial teams from the facilitation of pre-trial research extending through trial to a successful outcome. Working closely with counsel on voir dire, witness preparation, opening statement, closing argument and trial graphics has ensured that key themes and arguments are consistently communicated and received by jurors.
Marissa works on a broad range of cases but has developed a special expertise in high damages personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, trucking accidents, fraud, contracts, sex-related crimes, securities, and health care litigation.
Marissa received her Ph.D. from Brigham Young University, where she taught developmental psychology, statistics, research design, and general psychology, along with conducting her doctoral research. Her research involved studies on how people's interpretations of evidence and judgments are biased by their frameworks of perception.
Marissa has presented her research findings at both national and international meetings and was twice recognized for her research at the American Psychological Association's national convention.