1 / 21

Dennis I. Wilenchik

Dennis I. Wilenchik. Wilenchik & Bartness, P.C. 2810 North Third Street Phoenix, Arizona 85004 (602) 606-2810 (T) (602) 606-2811 (F) diw@wb-law.com. Civil Trial Practice- Do’s and Don’ts. Ninth Annual Public Legal Seminar Prescott, Arizona May 10-12, 2006. Do’s and Don’ts—Introduction.

kiara
Download Presentation

Dennis I. Wilenchik

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Dennis I. Wilenchik Wilenchik & Bartness, P.C. 2810 North Third Street Phoenix, Arizona 85004 (602) 606-2810 (T) (602) 606-2811 (F) diw@wb-law.com

  2. Civil Trial Practice-Do’s and Don’ts • Ninth Annual Public Legal Seminar • Prescott, Arizona May 10-12, 2006

  3. Do’s and Don’ts—Introduction

  4. Do’s and Don’ts—Introduction • Do keep it simple and use common sense. • Do appear to be well prepared, confident, and in control of the trial. • Don’t bore the jury. • Don’t misstate evidence, go beyond the record, or state personal beliefs.

  5. Do’s and Don’ts—Introduction • Don’t argue with the judge in front of the jury. • Do know what the judge expects of you in the courtroom. • Do use visual aids to streamline evidence and issues. • Do try to stipulate to admit as many exhibits as possible beforehand.

  6. Do’s and Don’ts—Introduction • Do be organized and neat at your table. • Do keep track of all of your documents and exhibits. • Do create notebooks or folders for each witness and for the opening statement and closing arguments. • Do create a “proof” outline showing issues needed for either your prima facie case or affirmative defenses.

  7. Do’s and Don’ts—The Jury

  8. Do’s and Don’ts—The Jury • Do establish rapport with the jury. • Do try to remember names of jurors. • Don’t ever embarrass a juror. • Do appeal to the logic and emotions of jurors. • Do show the jury the way. • Don’t speak “like a lawyer” in front of the jury, but don’t talk down to the jury either.

  9. Do’s and Don’ts—The Jury • Don’t let the jury believe that anything that happens is a surprise. • Do listen to prospective jurors during voir dire. • Do engage in some probing voir dire in order to determine whether a prospective juror may help or hurt your case. • Do make objections understandable to the jury.

  10. Do’s and Don’ts—Opening Statements

  11. Do’s and Don’ts—Opening Statements • Do start strong and create interest. • Do rehearse. • Do use visual aids where appropriate. • Do emphasize key issues by repeating key words or phrases, pausing, modulating your voice, and creating catch phrases.

  12. Do’s and Don’ts—Opening Statements • Do introduce weaknesses early and openly. • Do tell compelling stories. • Don’t overly commit yourself to the specific facts. • Don’t make arguments. Save your arguments for later.

  13. Do’s and Don’ts—Witnesses

  14. Do’s and Don’ts—Witnesses • Do not call witnesses that you really do not need. • Do not fight or argue with witnesses. • Do end direct and cross examinations on high points. • Do not object to the testimony of a witness unless you must do so. • Do adequately prepare your witnesses.

  15. Do’s and Don’ts—Direct Examination

  16. Do’s and Don’ts—Direct Examination • Ask yourself: • What am I trying to prove? • What witnesses do I need to prove my case? Who are my best witnesses? • How should I order my witnesses in order to tell my story? • What can I do to make my examination more interesting to the trier of fact?

  17. Do’s and Don’ts—Direct Examination • Ask yourself: • What are the legal requirements of getting my evidence or testimony introduced? • What exhibits should I introduce and when? • What demonstrative aides should I use to reach my goals? • What objections should I expect? How can I overcome those objections?

  18. Do’s and Don’ts—Cross-examination

  19. Do’s and Don’ts—Cross-examination • Do develop your theory and theme of the case and apply them to the cross-examination. • Don’t cross-examine every single witness if you do not need to. • Do start and end strong. • Don’t ask “how” or “why” questions.

  20. Do’s and Don’ts—Closing Arguments

  21. Do’s and Don’ts—Closing Arguments • Do use the closing argument as a final opportunity to persuade the jury. • Do prepare the closing argument before the opening statement. • Do rehearse the closing argument. • Do use analogies where appropriate. • Do use demonstrative evidence and/or visual aids.

More Related