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Posted On: March 19, 2008

Boston Massacre Trial and "John Adams"

Are you watching HBO’s production of McCullough's biography “John Adams”? If not, you might want to rent it later. The segment devoted to the 1770 Boston Massacre is fun to watch from a trial attorney's point of view, as the hero demonstrates several valuable advocacy techniques.

Adams, then only 34, defended the indicted soldiers and won the case. In HBO's telling, he lines up his witnesses very much as the doctrines of primacy and recency would advise him to: opening and concluding with his most valuable witnesses, wedging witnesses of lesser importance in the middle.

Also, in final argument, Adams connects the facts of the case with a universal appeal to the rule of law. Here, even though he was representing the soldiers, he was clearly speaking to jurors who were all too aware of English encroachment on their rights.

For those interested in reading up on the Boston Massacre trial, Hiller B. Zobel has written a classic account of the trial, which recounts from actual notes the arguments of counsel as well as engaging summaries of the testimony and historical background.

You might also enjoy browsing this excellent website about the case, created by law professor Douglas O. Linder.

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Posted In: Historic trials

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Posted On: March 18, 2008

Deposition Preparation, Part 4: Twelve Commandments for Deponents

If you represent the witness, you have to prepare yourself and your client.

To begin with, when appropriate take time to explain the case as a whole and the various theories of all parties to the witness. A full explanation will help the deponent understand what the case is about and respond to the questions in an intelligent and comfortable manner. (Beware that what you say may be discoverable during the deposition by opposing counsel, particularly if the witness is not the client. For example, you could inadvertently waive work-product protection by sharing your notes with a witness.)

Secondly, explain in detail the subjects on which the witness is most likely to be questioned. In that vein, be sure to give and discuss with the witness documents he is likely to see, paying close attention to those he may have authored or received.

During the prep meetings, encourage him to ask questions about what he may expect. It’s also a good idea to engage the witness in a ‘dry run’ or practice session. For the deposition itself there are many pointers to offer your client, though here are twelve commandments that come to mind:

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Posted In: Depositions

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Posted On: March 14, 2008

Deposition Preparation, Part 3: Organization

Once the goals of the deposition are selected, the next step is to consider organization of the questioning. Because you are not at trial, you are not necessarily putting on a rhetorical show for an audience. Some pointers that relate to direct or cross examination, such as those concerning body language and delivery, are not as relevant here.

Still, in a deposition you are, even if tangentially, developing a case. You want to elicit favorable testimony, and to do so requires strategic questioning. It’s possible the testimony could come before the jurors later on, so you want it to read to your liking. Try to begin and close with strong testimony. It’s often mentioned, but worth repeating: people remember best that which they hear first and last. This principal has always helped me organize witness examinations and depositions, as well as opening statements and closing arguments and everything in between.

Unlike a direct examination at trial, however, a deposition need not be quite as selective. You may want to ‘cover the waterfront’ and ask a lot of questions as you try to turn up any valuable information from the witness.

To help yourself keep all this in your head, consider preparing a deposition notebook that contains an outline of what you want to cover, technical questions written verbatim, and reminders for follow-up queries. Organizing documents in advance, pre-remarking them and having copies for other counsel is also helpful.

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Posted In: Depositions

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Posted On: March 14, 2008

Deposition Preparation, Part 2: Depositions and Rules of Evidence

If you need to, remind yourself of the rules of evidence before deposition day. The formal rules of evidence in force at trial are much relaxed in a deposition context. The hearsay rule, for instance, doesn’t apply in a deposition.

Often during the deposition the witness’s counsel will object to a question to protect his or her client’s interests at trial. Nevertheless, the witness will be told by the lawyer interposing the objection to answer the question. For example, “What did the President tell you about his plan?” “Objection, hearsay, but you can answer”, might be the lawyer’s response to a question the answer to which counsel believes would be improper during trial but not improper for the deposition. Whether the answer is admissible at trial is reserved for a later day.

There are limited occasions when it is proper to refuse to answer a question during a deposition. These occasions arise when the examiner is improperly probing for information that is protected by a recognized privilege under the law, such as the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine. The privilege against self-incrimination is another important privilege. Sometimes these privileges are inadvertently waived. For example, counsel may have previously shown his or her personal notes relating to trial strategy in preparing the witness for deposition. Under such circumstances the objection posed to the examiner seeking to learn about those notes may have been waived.

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Posted In: Depositions

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Posted On: March 13, 2008

Deposition Preparation: Why Depose a Witness

Aren’t depositions fun? Hour after hour of barbed questioning can make for a rather treacherous afternoon for the hapless witness. That’s not to mention the challenges to his professional integrity, expertise and character he may well have to endure.

No matter how unpleasant a deposition promises to be, a lawyer can take steps to prepare both himself and her witness. Though a deposition hasn’t the pomp and circumstance of a trial, an unwary deponent and attorney can lose their case if they fail to ready themselves.

Each deposition considered must be analyzed in terms of purpose. Is this deposition for purposes of summary judgment? Do I want to lock the witness into a particular position? Am I simply seeking to discover what knowledge the witness possesses about important events in the case? You may simply be curious about the substance of what the witness’ testimony would be if s/he were to be called to testify at trial. If the witness is an expert, you will want to learn not only the expert’s opinion about relevant issues, but also the basis of this opinion, and the qualifications to render it.

Other motivations for deposing a witness include:

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Posted On: March 8, 2008

Trial Attorneys and Technique

Does reading and writing about trial technique make you a better lawyer? Some veterans will tell you no, that you only learn by cutting your teeth on real cases. It’s true that there’s no substitute for experience in the courtroom. I’ve been representing clients in court for decades, but I still find it helpful to stop and think about what really works and why.

There’s something to be said for studying technique, listening to experts on rhetoric, reading about landmark trials and considering what distinguishes great arguments from competent ones. It’s especially helpful for me to write down what are the core lessons I and others have learned from trying case after case after case.

From depositions to opening statements, to direct examination, to cross, to closing, the lonely trial attorney faces countless decisions about how to proceed. We could all use a little help making the right calls. That’s why I’ve started this blog, to help lawyers, especially young ones, familiarize themselves with proven trial techniques.

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Paul Mark Sandler is a trial attorney who has developed a national reputation for successfully representing many notable clients in trial and appellate courts. He is a partner at Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler in Baltimore.

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Books By
Paul Mark Sandler

Anatomy of a Trial: A Handbook for Young LawyersAnatomy of a Trial: A Handbook for Young Lawyers
Anatomy of a Trial examines the key phases of jury trials (voir dire, opening statements, direct and cross-examination, and closing arguments) in the context of two particular cases, one criminal and the other civil.

The 12 Secrets of Persuasive ArgumentThe 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument
"This book will give all lawyers the guidance they need to become effective advocates. Whether you have just passed the bar or have been practicing for 30 years, this book will help refine your persuasive skills." -- from the Foreword by Carolyn Lamm, President of the American Bar Association

Discovery Problems and Their SolutionsDiscovery Problems and their Solutions, Second Edition
"An instant classic that is a must for any litigator's bookshelf." — The Daily Record (Co-Author)

Anatomy of a Trial: A Primer for Young LawyersAnatomy of a Trial: A Primer for Young Lawyers
Anatomy of a Trial follows the course of a single star-studded trial to illustrate skills that are crucial to any courtroom advocate.

Raising The Bar, by Paul SandlerRaising the Bar: Practice Tips and Trial Technique for the Young Maryland Lawyer, 2nd Edition
"Filled with practical advice and concrete examples of proven strategies and effective techniques." – Dean Karen H. Rothenberg, University of Maryland School of Law

Crafting the Winning Argument (DVD Package)Crafting the Winning Argument (DVD Package)
Three experienced trial lawyers show you how to develop a persuasive argument tailored to the situation at hand, built on a solid foundation of credibility, reason and evidence, powered with engaging emotion, and delivered in an appealing way.

Model Witness Examinations, by Paul SandlerModel Witness Examinations
A pioneering book, Model Witness Examinations vividly illustrates how to handle the most common evidentiary issues every trial lawyer faces. (Co-Author)

Pattern Examinations of Witnesses for the Maryland Lawyer, by Mark SandlerPattern Examinations of Witnesses for the Maryland Lawyer, 4th Edition
Offers over 60 examples of real-world direct and cross-examination situations. (Co-Author)

Maryland Discovery Problems and SolutionsMaryland Discovery Problems and Solutions
A handbook for Maryland attorneys navigating a range of discovery problems. (Co-Author)

Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland, 3rd Edition, by Mark SandlerPleading Causes of Action in Maryland, 3rd Edition
THE starting point for drafting virtually all initial pleadings in Maryland and a MICPEL best seller. (Co-Author)

Appellate Practice for the Maryland LawyerAppellate Practice for the Maryland Lawyer: State and Federal, 3rd Edition
Maryland’s most authoritative book on appellate practice. Includes in-depth interviews with appellate judges and DVD videos of actual oral arguments in appellate courts. (Co-Editor)

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