5 Courtroom Annoyances

The technology should be as transparent as possible, not a distraction, some others don’t seem to care. Here’s some annoyances that I have seen from “the other side” while sitting through trial. (note: these are tips for technologists and “hot seat” running attorneys.)

1. Stand when told and do not look at screen/keyboard.
I put this first because I am somewhat guilty of this. When the jury is coming in or leaving for a break you need to STOP working on your laptop. Clear the screen as quickly as possible. Stand and give your attention to the jury.

2. Pay Attention.
If you’re currently not using the computer or not asking questions, try to use the computer as little as possible. Pay attention to the question and answer. Ignoring when it’s “not your turn” isn’t very professional.

3. Take ear buds out!
Anyone that spends enough time in the courtroom knows that earbuds are an essential way to make clips during testimony of a live witness. I see many trial tech’s that leave their earbuds in while the jury is entering or exiting.

4. Put away that phone.
I try not to have my phone out at all in the courtroom. Although most of us are guilty of checking and responding to email.

5. Buy quiet peripherals.
My biggest pet peeve. Writing a novel on your clanky keyboard and playing mine sweeper with your mouse isn’t going to help you look like you’re paying attention. Have you ever had to sit and listen to someone type and click for an extended period of time?

Also, a technologist will be considered part of the “plaintiff” or “defense” even if they are independent of the case, like I always am. I’m asked constantly by jurors if I work for the firm or if I’m an attorney. I attribute that to acting like an attorney. Impressions are a huge battle in the courtroom.Under the pressures of trial you must take a second, stand back, and look at exactly what you’re doing.

Opening Statement Presentation – NO BULLET POINTS – $16 Million Verdict

Most attorneys, paralegals and litigation support staff don’t understand that Legal PowerPoint / Keynote presentations are supposed to be used to help support the story, not tell it. The attorney is Batman and the PowerPoint, Robin.

I was excited to learn I was being given freedom to design the Opening Statement without a single bullet point. I spent a couple hours with the attorney gathering his ideas and put this presentation together without much direction.

During opening my client only referred to the slides as a guide on what to talk about next, the actual slides only gave a visual reference to his story (or facts of the case). I think it went over very well, the jury was listening to him, not reading the screen.

(This was a trucking accident where the truck driver was drunk, traveling the wrong way down the highway causing a mild traumatic brain injury.)

Top 10 Jury verdicts of 2010

I find it interesting to read about the massive verdicts that are awarded sometimes. Always makes me wish I was working on the trials to hear what the jury must have gotten so mad about. Average of $157 million! The more interesting list would be to see how much is actually collected on the top 10 (and when).

Take a look over at LawyersUSA for the top ten verdicts of 2010 list.

Tort Reform PowerPoint CLE Presentation

Continuing legal education is an area of the legal systems that we feel is very important, so much so that we offer presentation creation and editing of existing presentations free of charge for certain CLE events (contact us for more information if you feel that your presentation could benefit from our charitable offers).

I’ve been somewhat surprised at the amount of topics here in Texas that involve how to survive after tort reform passing. We created this PowerPoint presentation for use with a local group of plaintiff attorneys.

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