The Science of Storytelling: How Trial Graphics Can Help You Tell a Compelling Narrative
As a trial lawyer, your main goal is to persuade the judge or jury that your client’s side of the story is the most compelling one. One of the most effective ways to do this is through trial graphics. These visual aids can help you convey complex information in a way that is easy to understand and memorable. In this article, we’ll explore the science of storytelling and how trial graphics can help you tell a compelling narrative. The Power of Storytelling Humans have been telling stories for thousands of years. From cave paintings to novels, stories have always played
Don’t Dox Your Jurors
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm: The number of criminal indictments against Donald Trump is now up to four. In the self-sealing belief systems of some of the former President’s more zealous supporters, if prosecutors are going after Trump, that means they’re corrupt, and if judges are siding with those prosecutors, they’re also corrupt. And, by extension, … Don’t Dox Your Jurors Read More »
Strategies to Keep a Jury Engaged: Making a Boring Case Captivating
As a litigator, it can be challenging to keep a jury engaged and interested in a trial that may seem dull or monotonous. However, there are several ways to make a boring trial more interesting and compelling. In this article, we will discuss ten effective strategies that can help a litigator keep a jury engaged and make a boring trial more interesting. 1. Start with a strong opening statement The opening statement is the litigator's first opportunity to capture the attention of the jury. It should be concise, clear, and engaging, providing a roadmap for the trial and how
Lawyers and Corporate Defendants – Expect a Little More Hostility from the Jury Box
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm: I suspect there has never been any great love affair between attorneys in general and the jury pool. Jurors know that lawyers are there to influence them toward a desired result, and that’s typically met with suspicion. Similarly, corporate defendants also don’t tend to make a jury’s list of favorites. We’ve … Lawyers and Corporate Defendants – Expect a Little More Hostility from the Jury Box Read More »
Assess and Address Bias Using Four Steps
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm: It’s one of the central contradictions of the law: we ask for and expect neutral and unbiased decision makers…and then we end up using humans. Those human fact-finders are almost inevitably going to have an individual form of perception or some level of partiality or bias. When it comes to the … Assess and Address Bias Using Four Steps Read More »
Does televising oral arguments diminish judicial legitimacy? | Online Jury Research Update
One decision on which many judges have exercised caution is whether to allow cameras in their courtrooms, fearing that cameras will diminish the perceived legitimacy of the courts. While many state supreme courts and three federal circuit courts currently allow cameras in their courtrooms at least some of the time (Kromphardt and Bolton, 2022), most federal appellate courts and a number of state supreme courts have chosen not to open their courts to cameras. Generally speaking, the appellate courts that prohibit cameras at oral argument allow audio recordings of the arguments (as opposed to blanket prohibition on any recordings at