Vol. 21/No. 6 November 2009 Archive

  • In any social setting, including the courtroom, being a woman or man implies a certain fundamental belief about the acceptability of changing roles for women in U.S. society. We might expect women to be the most understanding and least judgmental of other women who take on new roles such as […]

    Sex and Race in the Courtroom: Shifting Gender-Role Attitudes in a Changing World

    by Cameron D. Lippard, Ph.D. and J. Scott Carter, Ph.D. and Mamadi Corra, Ph.D. and Shannon K. Carter, Ph.D. In any social setting, including the courtroom, being a woman or man implies a certain fundamental belief about the acceptability of changing roles for women in U.S. society. We might expect women to be the most understanding and least judgmental of other women who take on new roles such as […]

    Continue Reading...

  • "There is an online quitting-Facebook-for-Lent support group. But how is it possible to communicate support on Facebook without breaking your vow? Serving on a jury is one of those instances when the cell phone and the laptop are best left at home1." Trials have been being disrupted due to the […]

    Online and Wired for Justice: Why Jurors Turn to the Internet (the “Google mistrial”)

    by Douglas L. Keene, Ph.D. and Rita R. Handrich, Ph.D. "There is an online quitting-Facebook-for-Lent support group. But how is it possible to communicate support on Facebook without breaking your vow? Serving on a jury is one of those instances when the cell phone and the laptop are best left at home1." Trials have been being disrupted due to the […]

    Continue Reading...

  • Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis Bacon, 1561-1626) Debunking the myth It has been said that a case that goes to trial is the failure of negotiation. Why not help the negotiation along with the most powerful tool available – information? Trial attorneys have increasingly employed jury research to inform theme […]

    Jury Research for Settlement: The Price is Right?

    by Melissa Gomez, Ph.D. Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis Bacon, 1561-1626) Debunking the myth It has been said that a case that goes to trial is the failure of negotiation. Why not help the negotiation along with the most powerful tool available – information? Trial attorneys have increasingly employed jury research to inform theme […]

    Continue Reading...

  • Introduction The mental status of the defendant has long been an issue of interest for legal professionals. Most states have some kind of insanity plea (i.e., Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity [NGRI]). States vary on which guidelines they use to formulate their legislation (most commonly the M'Naghten rule or […]

    Guilty but Mentally Ill (GBMI) vs. Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI): An Annotated Bibliography

    by Jennifer Kutys and Jennifer Esterman Introduction The mental status of the defendant has long been an issue of interest for legal professionals. Most states have some kind of insanity plea (i.e., Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity [NGRI]). States vary on which guidelines they use to formulate their legislation (most commonly the M'Naghten rule or […]

    Continue Reading...

  • The attention of attorneys and witnesses alike is captured is when jurors nod their heads. When attorneys speak or witnesses testify, often there are individuals on the jury who nod their heads up and down, some jurors nodding rapidly and vigorously and some with a barely visible movement of the […]

    When Jurors Nod

    by Stanley L. Brodsky, Ph.D. and Michael P. Griffin, Ph.D. The attention of attorneys and witnesses alike is captured is when jurors nod their heads. When attorneys speak or witnesses testify, often there are individuals on the jury who nod their heads up and down, some jurors nodding rapidly and vigorously and some with a barely visible movement of the […]

    Continue Reading...

  • I am a lucky woman. I have been an actor since I was five years old. I have had the great fortune of working with and studying under some of the finest disciples and practitioners of the great master of modern realistic acting: Konstantin Stanislavski. Studying and practicing acting involves […]

    Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Live Communication I Learned From Konstantin Stanislavski: Common Mistakes and Best Practices

    by Katherine James I am a lucky woman. I have been an actor since I was five years old. I have had the great fortune of working with and studying under some of the finest disciples and practitioners of the great master of modern realistic acting: Konstantin Stanislavski. Studying and practicing acting involves […]

    Continue Reading...

  • As an institution, the Supreme Court stands apart from other courts in status, grandeur, and influence, representing both the power and idealism of law in America. For most lawyers, arguing before the Court is a rare opportunity and represents the pinnacle of a legal career, which would lead one to […]

    “Don’t Poke Scalia!” Lessons for Trial Lawyers from the Nation’s Highest Court

    by Tara Trask and Ryan Malphurs As an institution, the Supreme Court stands apart from other courts in status, grandeur, and influence, representing both the power and idealism of law in America. For most lawyers, arguing before the Court is a rare opportunity and represents the pinnacle of a legal career, which would lead one to […]

    Continue Reading...

  • This is a very cool issue of The Jury Expert. We have an array of articles we think you'll find interesting, thought-provoking and fun to read. First we have a look at gender and race in the courtroom over time and recommendations for how litigators might use this information with […]

    Editor’s Note

    by Rita Handrich, Editor This is a very cool issue of The Jury Expert. We have an array of articles we think you'll find interesting, thought-provoking and fun to read. First we have a look at gender and race in the courtroom over time and recommendations for how litigators might use this information with […]

    Continue Reading...

  • This month we have two favorite things (again). Susan Macpherson and Ted Brooks offer their favorites for your exploration!  From Susan Macpherson:  I like a blog called Presentation Zen that sends out regular examples of powerful ways to communicate visually and to motivate audiences WITHOUT bullet points. Many cases don't […]

    November 2009′s Favorite Thing

    by The Jury Expert This month we have two favorite things (again). Susan Macpherson and Ted Brooks offer their favorites for your exploration!  From Susan Macpherson:  I like a blog called Presentation Zen that sends out regular examples of powerful ways to communicate visually and to motivate audiences WITHOUT bullet points. Many cases don't […]

    Continue Reading...