The Art & Science of Trial Advocacy: 3607 - FM - Indd I 3607 - FM - Indd I 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM
The Art & Science of Trial Advocacy: 3607 - FM - Indd I 3607 - FM - Indd I 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM
The Art & Science of Trial Advocacy: 3607 - FM - Indd I 3607 - FM - Indd I 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM 3/3/2011 9:45:30 PM
William Araiza
Professor of Law
Brooklyn Law School
Lenni B. Benson
Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Professional Development
New York Law School
Raj Bhala
Rice Distinguished Professor
University of Kansas, School of Law
Ruth Colker
Distinguished University Professor & Heck-Faust Memorial Chair
in Constitutional Law
Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
David Gamage
Assistant Professor of Law
UC Berkeley School of Law
Joan Heminway
College of Law Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Tennessee College of Law
Edward Imwinkelried
Edward L. Barrett, Jr. Professor of Law
UC Davis School of Law
David I. C. Thomson
LP Professor & Director, Lawyering Process Program
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
Melissa Weresh
Director of Legal Writing and Professor of Law
Drake University Law School
SECOND EDITION
L. TIMOTHY PERRIN
Professor of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
H. MITCHELL CALDWELL
Professor of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
CAROL A. CHASE
Professor of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
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(2011-Pub.3607)
DEDICATIONS
For Lucy, Hannah, Sam, and Will with thanks for their love and laughter.
For Joyce, Eric, Jack and Kay for their unflagging enthusiasm and support.
For John, Warren, Meredith, Harrison, Bonnie and Bob, with gratitude for
their love and support.
–Carol A. Chase
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
vii
PREFACE
More than seven years have passed since the publication of The Art &
Science of Trial Advocacy and during that time we have been gratified by
the positive response to our book from students, professors, and practitio-
ners. While much has changed in the world since publication of the book,
the fundamentals of trial advocacy remain very much the same. Successful
trial advocates understand that their credibility—their ethos—is central to
trial success. You can not control the facts in the case, but you can control
what you do with the facts. Effective advocates do not sacrifice their cred-
ibility with the factfinder by stretching, distorting, or otherwise misusing
the evidence in the case.
If the fundamentals are unchanged, then why publish a second edi-
tion of the book? The answer is that while effective trial advocacy is still
rooted in the same values as before, the tools of advocacy continue to evolve.
In particular, the rapid development of technology and its use in the court-
room is changing the way that trials are conducted and the way that law-
yers present evidence and argue to the jury. Some of these changes are for
the better and some for the worse. In this edition, we have sought to pay
particular attention to the use of technology. We have added “Tech Tips”
throughout the book, providing specific suggestions regarding how tech-
nology might be used to enhance advocacy at various points of the trial.
In addition, we have emphasized the technologies available to trial lawyers
as they prepare and present evidence.
Technology is merely a tool, of course. It will not magically turn poor
advocacy into effective advocacy, or transform the boring and uninterest-
ing into something that is compelling and persuasive. Yet, most jurors live
in a world that is high-tech and are conditioned to enjoy plenty of visual
and aural stimulation, preferably at the same time. Effective advocates are
aware of and responsive to the expectations of jurors; thus, we must master
the available technologies and become adept at their use.
In addition to this updated edition of the book, we have also put
together additional tools to assist the aspiring or less experienced trial
advocate. As part of the on-line resources that are available for read-
ers of this book, we have developed two videotaped trials—one civil
and one criminal—to provide an application of the principles of trial
advocacy contained herein. The advocates and witnesses in the trials are
Pepperdine law students and we hope that the addition of this visual
ix
x PREFACE
Tim Perrin
Harry Caldwell
Carol Chase
October 2010
Malibu, California
TABLE OF CONTENTS
xi
3. Pathos ............................................................................... 24
4. Simplicity ......................................................................... 26
5. Imagery ............................................................................ 27
a. The Importance of Technology .................................. 27
b. The Use of Technology in the Courtroom ................ 28
i. Forms of Technology ........................................... 29
ii. Choosing the Best Equipment ........................... 31
6. Frequency ......................................................................... 31
7. Logic and Coherence ........................................................ 33
TABLE OF CONTENTS xv
g.
The Rules of Ethics and Common Sense
in Witness Preparation ....................................... 178
B. Preparing the Examination ................................................... 178
1. Proof of the Claim or Defense .......................................... 178
2. Order of Witnesses ............................................................ 179
3. Selection of Witnesses ....................................................... 180
C. Structuring the Testimony ..................................................... 181
III. PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE DIRECT EXAMINATIONS ............................. 182
❖ Principle Number One: Ask Clear and Understandable
Questions .......................................................................... 182
1. Ask Open-Ended Questions .............................................. 182
2. Ask Easily Understood Questions .................................... 183
3. Use the “Double Direct” to Gain Repetition ..................... 184
Illustration of Double Direct Examination ............... 184
❖ Principle Number Two: Use Blocking and Headlining ......... 184
1. The Jury’s View of the Direct Examination ..................... 184
2. The Theory Behind Blocking and Headlining................. 185
3. Headlining and the Prohibition on Leading Questions ... 186
4. Transitioning From One Block to the Next ...................... 186
5. Advantages of Blocking and Headlining ......................... 187
Illustration of Blocking and Headlining ................... 187
❖ Principle Number Three: Personalize Witnesses to Build
Rapport Between Witnesses and Jurors ......................... 190
1. Overview of Personalization and Rapport Building ....... 190
2. The Relevance of Background Material ........................... 190
3. Advantages of Personalization ......................................... 191
Illustration of Personalization and Rapport
Building................................................................ 191
❖ Principle Number Four: Incorporate Pathos ......................... 193
Illustration of “The Feelings Question” ........................... 194
❖ Principle Number Five: Set the Stage ................................... 195
Illustration of Staging ...................................................... 196
❖ Principle Number Six: Fully Develop the Action Sequence..... 198
1. Telling the Story................................................................ 199
2. “Freezing” the Action for Important Points ...................... 199
Illustration of “Freezing” the Action for
Important Points ................................................. 200
3. Filling in the Gaps in the Story........................................ 201
Illustration of Filling in the Gaps in the Story ........ 201
4. Using Demonstrative Aids to Tell the Story Again .......... 202
❖ Principle Number Seven: Emphasize Important
Testimony .......................................................................... 202
Illustration of Double Direct Examination ..................... 203
Illustration of “Parking” on Important Testimony.......... 204
xx TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
xxxi
STATUTES
28 U.S.C. § 1861 .........................................................................................111
28 U.S.C. § 1870 ...........................................................................................81
SECONDARY AUTHORITIES
3 The Great Ideas 645 (Mortimer J. Adler ed. 1985) ..................................14
5 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 1367 (Chadbourn rev. 1974) ............................278
American Heritage Dictionary, at 937 (3rd ed. 1992) ..............................435
Bugliosi, Vincent & Gentry, Curt, Helter Skelter, at 407–12
(W.W. Norton & Co. 1994) (original publication date 1974) ............436
Cacioppo, John T. & Petty, Richard E., Effects of Message Repetition
and Position on Cognitive Response, Recall, and Persuasion,
37 J. Personality & Soc. Psych. 97, at 105–07 (1979).........................32