Greedy Trial Lawyer
PowerPoint Has Its Place, But Is It In Closing Argument?
Category: News Defused
Have you noticed the closing arguments on all of the top-rated television programs are never more than 3 minutes long and deliver strong, convincing and concise messages? And, they never include PowerPoint or other "gadgets" to augment the oral presentation.
Count me as one vote for fewer gadgets and better crafted and delivered arguments despite the thoughts and recommendations of many top trial lawyers.
Are Gadgets Replacing Oratory [In The Courtroom]?
"From PowerPoint presentations to slick graphics flashed on interactive whiteboards, computers are transforming the way justice is delivered to defendants who want their day in court...."
The quoted article is an example of the way lawyers are perceived in the lay press. But it's not really true that gadgets are replacing oratory; rather, gadgets are enabling a new kind of oratory. It's one that all lawyers should be familiar with. Though some lawyers with lesser-damage cases think that the use of technology might result in "over-trying" a case, one could argue that even if juries don't expect or demand technology in every case, they certainly won't object to it in a way that would be harmful to the client. The quoted article proves the point.
From the Illinois Trial Practice Weblog
The question of jury objections or non-objections to gadgets may miss the point. Would the jury be better persuaded by fewer words delivered from the heart without any electronic or digital embellishment?
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