Two years ago he started asking jurors to evaluate his performance at the end of each trial.

The 17-page questionnaire, including one blank page for comments, also asked potential jurors about their backgrounds, reading habits and political beliefs.

Another tactic would be to ask prospective jurors to give examples of issues they had once believed in strongly, but then changed their minds about.

Although the judge may allow the lawyer to ask jurors direct questions under Federal rules, it is almost never done.

Other important questions asked jurors about school integration and racial conflict.

After all, they said, jurors with trouble weighing complex evidence can always ask other jurors for help.

He asked several other potential jurors about their feelings toward blacks.

But this is not the first example of the courts asking jurors to leave aside what they know.

He asked jurors to recommend that he get the death penalty.