who would make the most persuasive attorney, defendant, witness, etc?

by Judd Carroll 7 min read

Which type of evidence is most persuasive?

Jul 20, 2012 · In court, a lawyer asks questions during the cross-examination of witnesses. A competent lawyer ALWAYS knows the answer to the question he or she is asking. The answers buttress the lawyer's argument. Lawyer: Mrs. Jones. Did you see the defendant steal cash from the cash register at the coffee shop? Witness: Yes.

What type of evidence is most persuasive in most corruption cases?

1. Record in detail (when, where, how, why, etc.) the statement of the witness that he paid the government official in cash (this is the direct evidence); 2. Prove that the government official spent or deposited a significant amount of cash shortly after he allegedly received the cash bribe; 3.

What kinds of cases do criminal defense lawyers handle?

May 18, 2020 · In that case, the defense attorney has to present the defendant’s side of the story before the court and jury. Not all lawyers have the same level of experience at trial. Attorneys have to be familiar with the laws and statutes that apply to the case and be able to make persuasive arguments to the jury advocating for a not guilty verdict.

Should I hire a public defender or a private criminal defense attorney?

wrongdoing by the defendant, bad motivation or intention on the defendant’s part, and unjust ... etc.). When this is the case, and even more generally where you want to state the legal consequences of the facts, it ... not make for the most persuasive, plausible pleading. A good check is, if you wouldn’t speak or ...

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What is the most persuasive evidence in court?

Although eyewitness testimony is arguably the most convincing evidence presented at trial, it is also one of the most unreliable pieces of evidence (e.g., Loftus & Schneider, 1987; Wells & Olson, 2003).Mar 15, 2018

What are the four types of witnesses?

Typically the Four Types of witnesses are:Lay witness.Expert witness.Character witness.Secondary witness.Mar 2, 2021

How can I be persuasive in court?

Below are a few takeaways:Focus on your goal. What do you want the court to do? ... Tailor your argument to the decision maker. ... Cultivate ethos. ... Base your arguments on reason. ... Build with evidence, law, and policy. ... Appeal to emotion. ... Use the best medium for the message. ... Strategically arrange your arguments.More items...•May 28, 2020

What is the proper role of defense attorneys regarding their clients?

Defense Attorneys develop relationships with clients as they establish legal needs, provide counsel, help them understand their legal options. Defense Attorneys also conduct research, prepare legal documents, and perform other duties to ensure that clients receive the best and most cost-effective legal solutions.

Who is an interested witness?

An interested witness refers to someone having direct interest in the result of the litigation, expecting to gain some benefit out of it.

Who may be witnesses?

A witness is a person who saw or heard the crime take place or may have important information about the crime or the defendant. Both the defense and the prosecutor can call witnesses to testify or tell what they know about the situation.

How do lawyers persuade?

They give their audience visible, tangible proof that the case is as they say it is by providing concrete evidence, clothing, pictures of the crime scene or the victim, documents etc. They're Reasonable – Great lawyers appeal to reason. They use solid arguments, based on fact, logic and common sense.Jan 20, 2014

Do Lawyers use persuasion?

A large part of practicing law is persuading someone to believe, act or agree with your client's position, whether in a courtroom or boardroom or at a negotiation or dinner table. We seek to persuade juries, judges, colleagues, friends, family or the media that we are right, and others are not.Oct 25, 2021

What is persuasion in criminal justice?

Persuasion involves getting people to do what is right for their own – and society's-best interest through logic, reason and/or emotion.Aug 13, 2020

What is the defense attorney's Largest responsibility?

First and foremost, the most important job of your criminal defense attorney is to fight for you and defend you in the court of law. According to the American Bar Association, the primary responsibility of a criminal defense attorney is to advocate for their clients and defend their rights.Jul 8, 2021

What is exculpatory evidence?

In criminal law, exculpatory evidence is some fact, testimony or document that, if used at a criminal trial, might help prove that the accused was not guilty of the charges.Sep 14, 2021

Which member of the American criminal justice system is considered to be the most powerful?

Prosecutors are the most powerful officials in the American criminal justice system. The decisions they make, particularly the charging and plea-bargaining decisions, control the operation of the system and often predetermine the outcome of criminal cases.

What do lawyers do in court?

They interact with police, prosecutors, and judges on a regular basis, and these professional relationships can be helpful in crafting your legal defense, navigating jury selection, negotiating a plea bargain, and advocating for you at trial or during sentencing.

Why is it important to hire an attorney?

Hiring an attorney is a personal choice, but it is important to remember the importance of having quality legal representation when there are legal consequences like fines or time in prison on the line.

How to resolve a criminal case?

Guide the Defendant. There are multiple ways that a criminal case can be resolved. A defense attorney has to help a defendant decide how to proceed with their defense. This might include negotiating with the prosecution to determine if there is a suitable plea deal available. If you don’t want a plea deal or if one isn’t possible, ...

Why do criminal defense attorneys offer free initial consultations?

Most criminal defense attorneys offer free initial consultations so they can get to know you and evaluate the case after hearing your situation. This first consultation is also an opportunity to discuss their legal strategies as well as legal fees for handling your case.

What to do if you are arrested?

If you are arrested or learn you are under investigation, the first thing you should do is contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.

What kind of charges does a defense lawyer handle?

For example, some defense lawyers might only handle cases involving drug charges, violent crimes, federal charges, or sex crime charges. By specializing in very specific areas, the attorney usually has the time to build strong knowledge and experience defending against these types of charges.

What do you do when you are charged with a crime?

If you are charged with a crime, you have a right to defend yourself against those charges. A criminal defense attorney can help you navigate through the criminal justice system, prepare and assert your legal defense, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the process. Facing questioning from police, a judge, ...

I. INTRODUCTION

In talking with trial lawyers, jury psychologists and jurors, it is painfully clear that the result of the trial is determined at the time of jury selection. During the remainder of the trial, the party which has already won the trial attempts not to lose the trial.

II. THE LAW OF CONDUCTING VOIR DIRE

In State Court, the attorney is given the right to conduct Voir Dire. See North Carolina General Statute section 915 (1981). Attacks on this right have increased within the last several years.

III. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING JURY SELECTION

Some seasoned trial attorneys have concluded that there are only myths and no science to jury selection. On the other hand, it is increasingly clear that the perspective that potential jurors bring with them strongly affects their interpretation of the evidence.

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A. The Psychology of Jury Selection

  • After the selection of the jury, every lawyer looks into the eyes of the jury panel and realizes one person will be the foreman or forewoman. Within any place where more than one person gathers, group dynamics occurs. Many persons have succeeded by understanding that many times appearing to know what you are talking about may be more important than actually knowing it. T…
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B. Focusing The Voir Dire

  • Jurors during Voir Dire immediately begin forming opinions and predispositions toward the Parties and their attorneys. Jurors, in effect, are looking toward a person who they will trust to help lead them toward a rational result. The Plaintiff’s attorney during Voir Dire can and should demonstrate his or her concern that the members of the Jury be treated with dignity and with re…
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C. Preventing Alienation of The Jury

  • Jurors, and particularly first time jurors, face an extremely tense situation when Voir Dire questioning begins. In this environment, certain people exhibit aggressive and hostile behavior. Because the Plaintiff’s lawyer generally has the first opportunity to question the jury panel, alienating the jury remains a genuine risk. In order to reduce this risk, Plaintiff’s counsel should s…
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D. Dealing with The Issue of Sympathy

  • The Defendant’s counsel will also inexorable allude to “sympathy,” in jury selection. The purpose is to dull the jury’s sensitivity as to human suffering. A common tendency by jurors, as a result of such inquiries, may be to overcompensate and to penalize the Plaintiff. Accordingly, the Plaintiff’s attorney should address the sympathy question. Often, the Plaintiff’s attorney will want to addre…
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E. Acknowledging Potential Weaknesses

  • Failure to disclose potential weaknesses in the Plaintiff’s case can lead to disaster. The only truly irredeemable evidence is that evidence the jury learns from the Defendant’s counsel first. This procedure is called work shopping. If the evidence once revealed is so catastrophic that a favorable verdict is impossible, the case should not be tried. For example, if a damaging statem…
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Appendix

  • 1. Sample Voir Dire Questions in Federal Diversity Case Involving Injuries from a Riding Lawn Mower The Plaintiffs, respectfully request that the Court inquire of the jury with regard to the additional questions shown below: 1. Has any member of the jury, his or her family, ever owned or used a riding mower? (a) If so, please describe by whom it was manufactured and the period of t…
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