Again, this issue we have two favorite things. Two ASTC-member trial consultants share their precious [aka favorite] things.

Edward P. Schwartz (http://www.eps-consulting.com) tells us about the Livescribe Pulse Pen:

 

One of my favorite things is my new Livescribe Pulse pen. It records audio and synchronizes it with the notes you take along the way. Wanna know why you wrote down "Groovy" with a little heart? Tap on the word and hear the playback of what the speaker was saying at the precise time you were drawing your doodle.

 

The pen comes with all sorts of special features and more are on the way. Draw a keyboard and tap the keys to play a piano. Add a marimba rhythm track and change the melody to steel drums. Write the word "bathroom" and tap on it to get the word translated into your favorite language.

 

The starter kit, with pen, several ink refills and four notebooks can be purchased at Costco for under $200!

 

Check it out at http://www.livescribe.com/.

 

Rita Handrich (http://www.keenetrial.com) offers a list of cognitive biases courtesy of Wikipedia:

 

The helpful folks at Wikipedia have provided a concise summary of multiple kinds of cognitive biases that we encounter in juries (and opposing counsel and just maybe in ourselves) with some frequency. They cover “the bandwagon effect”, “the focusing effect”, the “not invented here” effect, “the ostrich effect”. And it goes on and on and on.  Something for everyone and something relevant to every case you might have. 

 

Check this out as a resource to aid you in identifying cognitive biases, what they are, which is which, and to help you think through how to confront them and minimize their impact.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases