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What Makes Juries Listen - A Communications Expert Looks at the Trial

NCJ Number
96187
Author(s)
S Hamlin
Date Published
1985
Length
559 pages
Annotation
An expert in communications skills details techniques that trial lawyers can use to communicate with and influence a jury. Voir dire, witness examination, and both opening and closing statements are covered.
Abstract
An overview of communications theory as applied to the courtroom emphasizes how the contemporary television-trained audience learns and the problems this causes for trial lawyers. The discussion of voir dire considers inner dialogues and anxieties behind jurors' answers, the jury's perception of the attorney, preparation for voir dire, questioning techniques, and nonverbal behavior as cues to jurors' personalities and values. Specific questions that probe the jurors' personalities, interests, and attitudes are provided. The chapter on the opening statement focuses on effective persentation techniques and speaking and language skills. Three chapters considering direct examination, cross-examination, and expert witnesses discuss examination, cross-examination, and expert witnesses discuss issues and insights, developing an examination, preparing witnesses and experts, and techniques. A chapter on the final argument covers how jurors make judgments, basic elements, designing and delivering formal arguments, and winning arguments. The use of visual aids is highlighted, including selecting and preparing demonstrative evidence and choosing visual presentation forms. Suggestions to help attorneys develop the communications skills needed in today's court cover eye contact, voice, speech habits, gesture, posture and stance, and stage presence. The final chapter focuses on communication skills in bench trials. An index is supplied.