Murder board

A murder board is a committee of questioners set up to help someone prepare for a difficult oral examination. The term originated in the U.S. military but is also used in academic and government appointment contexts.

In U.S. politics, murder boards are used in preparing candidates for debates and presidential appointees for Senate confirmation hearings.

On April 20, 2010 representative Mary Jo Kilroy asked former Lehman Brothers CEO Dick Fuld if he had set up a murder board to prepare for his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee concerning the 2008 Lehman Brothers failure. Fuld expressed confusion at the expression, apparently unfamiliar with the term. Fuld indicated that he had not set up a murder board after Barney Frank explained what it meant.