Defendant Reginald McKay, a mentally disturbed American who became a "home-grown" Islamic terrorist, poisoned members of a Jewish temple during Passover seder. After one of the The Trial Presentation Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Presenting Electronic Evidence in the Courtroom, written by award-winning legal technologist Shannon Lex Bales, is NITA’s first-ever, comprehensive “how-to” manual on running electronic evidence in the courtroom. This face-saving guide will help you and your firm expand your comfort zone in working with all the bits and pieces―laptops, trial presentation software, document cameras, audio-visual components, the puzzling array of cords and cables―that are increasingly essential when presenting electronic evidence in court in the modern era. Checklists and guides are included to help your firm create a technology plan for trial and recognize where opposing firms may attempt less-than-reputable technical tactics, such as burden shifting, to throw a monkey wrench in your trial plan. For the judiciary, the book presents a warts-and-all view of trial technology and discusses reasonable presentation obligations by firms to the court and how the court can ensure more efficient technological processes and fewer problems in the courtroom. Part One, Trial Presentation in Theory, is just that: a theoretical explanation, in plain (and often tongue-in-cheek) English, about why expert trial technologists do what they do during pretrial and in court―how to organize and name exhibit files, choose the best software for your needs, build a trial kit of equipment to take to court, comply with the Trial Management Order, develop an effective workflow, cultivate relationships that provide mutual support in court and out, and much more. Included as a free bonus are ready-to-use forms and checklists for you to download and use to help you mind the details of your case. Part Two, Trial Presentation in Practice, shows you, step by illustrated step, how you, too, can bring that same game to your own legal team as you huddle for trial. Even if you don’t know an HDMI port from a VGA and have never set up a folder system on your server before, The Trial Presentation Companion will show you how, and before you know it, you’ll be running the show like you were born to it. This book is suitable for everyone from judges and law firm partners and associates to law students, budding trial technologists, and paralegals. Whatever your position, we envision you using this eBook alongside your computer, open on either an iPad or a secondary monitor while you plan and execute your courtroom presentation plan. This eBook’s functionality is optimized on an iPad because it enables you to pinch-zoom the graphics to view the details, but it may also be downloaded to your desktop and viewed with Adobe Digital Editions. Digital Reader is an eBook reader for PC and Mac—and best of all, it’s free.

"This book is written to take its readers through each stage of a jury trial, starting with the filing of a lawsuit long before a jury trial begins and ending in the motion practice concluding long after the jury's verdict. The concept of this book is to divide the trial process into its fifteen segments, and with each author giving their perspectives, one from the Plaintiff's perspective and one from the Defendant's perspective. The authors hope and trust that young trial lawyers-to-be will find useful the lessons the authors have learned and shared, within the pages of this book"--

Trial Handbook is the one-stop resource you can trust in the planning, trial, and post-trial stages of litigation. Designed for quick reference in the courtroom, Trial Handbook is keyed to the Federal Rules of Evidence and focuses on the presentation of proof and the evidentiary problems faced by counsel. Packed with practical checklists, charts, outlines, sample jury selection questions, Trial Handbook gives you the knowledge and tools to: - Develop solid trial briefs and strong case plans- Prepare lay and expert witnesses and organize your exhibits more effectively- Master voir dire to maximize your chances of getting the most sympathetic jurors- Make a clear record at trial to aid jurors' understanding of your case- Build a rapport and your credibility with the jury throughout the trial- Use opening statements to put your cases, clients, and proof in the most favorable light- Give summations that blend evidence and issues to paint a thoroughly persuasive picture- Exploit discovery materials at trial to get an additional edge- Lay the proper foundation for various forms of evidence- Capitalize on the powerful probative impact of visual aids at trial- Apply proven direct examination and cross-examination techniques- Use pretrial, trial, and post-trial motions to gain strategic advantages- Draft clear, legally sound jury instructions that subtly sway judges At the heart of Trial Handbook is its unique Evidence Guide, now also included as a laminated fold-out, which clearly explains the meaning, purpose, operation, and history of every rule, including how each rule applies to other cases and how leading cases construe a particular rule. Volume 2, the Case Authority, includes thousands of case summaries of decisions under the rules, arming you with the latest evidentiary resources to help you prevail at trial.

Trial Fundamentals is a concise and practical handbook setting forth the nuts and bolts of trying a (non-criminal) case before a jury or the court. It covers not only basic trial procedure and the rules of evidence commonly used in the courtroom, but also explains basic strategies and trial skills necessary to try a case, such as tips on how to select a jury, how to effectively cross-examine and impeach a witness, and strategies for making a persuasive closing argument. Using California's rules of evidence and procedure for reference, the handbook follows the natural progression of a trial from the motions in limine through jury deliberation, and everything in between. Written by a Superior Court judge in California with more than 30 years of courtroom experience, the handbook includes explanation and commentary on the following areas: * In limine motions* Jury selection* Opening statements* Direct examination* Cross-examination* Witness impeachment* Witness rehabilitation* Expert witnesses* Hearsay* Character evidence* Courtroom evidence* Trial objections* Closing argument* Deliberations In addition, the handbook contains numerous "trial tips," practical real-world suggestions by the author concerning courtroom presentation and trial etiquette, not found in other more formal trial treatises. Because a substantial portion of the handbook is devoted to basic trial skills and strategies, and because California's rules of evidence mirror, or are very similar to, many other jurisdictions, the handbook is also useful to practitioners outside California. The handbook is meant to set forth the basic fundamentals of a trial, both procedural and practical, in a concise, and easy-to-follow format. It is an excellent refresher for experienced trial counsel and a good learning resource for the less-experienced and law students learning the trade. For the fundamentals of a criminal trial see Criminal Trial Handbook, also published by the author.

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

The Criminal Trial Handbook is a concise and practical treatise that sets forth the nuts and bolts of what every lawyer needs to know to competently and effectively try a criminal case. Designed for use by both prosecutors and defense attorneys, experienced and inexperienced, the handbook is compiled and written by a California Superior Court judge with nearly 30 years of courtroom experience. It follows the natural progression of a jury trial from the first day counsel arrive at the courtroom through the closing argument. At each stage of a trial, the applicable rules of courtroom procedure and evidence are explained. It covers common evidentiary trial issues, such as hearsay and character evidence, and includes the verbatim text for some of the most commonly used California Evidence Code sections and selected case law authorities. Topics covered include: * Pre-Trial Motions* Discovery* Jury Selection* Opening Statements and Closing Arguments* Direct Examination* Cross-Examination* Expert Witnesses* Hearsay * Character Evidence* Writings* Foundational Requirements for Evidence* Objections* DeliberationsIn addition, the handbook describes basic trial tactics, such as how to effectively cross-examine a witness, how to present evidence in the courtroom, and how to make persuasive opening statements or closing arguments. It also contains "Trial Tips," practical suggestions for the courtroom not ordinarily found in other legal treatises or law books. Although primarily geared towards criminal law, many of the trial procedures and tactics discussed are equally applicable in civil trials. The handbook is also a great resource for law students or anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of a criminal jury trial.