During a trial, there are various ways to make efficient use of demonstrative exhibits. Remember that these kind of exhibits are different from the attachments to your expert report. An exhibit of this nature is by and large much larger so the jurors can easily view it. Think about creating one exhibit for each major opinion that you offer to the jury. Do not clutter it with excessive graphical or textual or numeric information. It demonstrates the essence of your opinion in a few seconds -- hence the name 'demonstrative exhibit.'
In a trial, a picture is unquestionably worth a thousand words because so much more rests on your ability to explain the facts. Exhibits of a visual nature become more and more beneficial when the issues and your specialty are more scientific or complicated. Some people discover better from pictures than words or numbers. Deliver expert witness testimony in both visual and verbal ways so the jurors who figure out either way will know you. Eye-catching, colorful, and easily understood visual aids will complement the greater detail of your text, tables or spreadsheets.
In a trial, a picture is unquestionably worth a thousand words because so much more rests on your ability to explain the facts. Exhibits of a visual nature become more and more beneficial when the issues and your specialty are more scientific or complicated. Some people discover better from pictures than words or numbers. Deliver expert witness testimony in both visual and verbal ways so the jurors who figure out either way will know you. Eye-catching, colorful, and easily understood visual aids will complement the greater detail of your text, tables or spreadsheets.
Realize that the jurors may look at your exhibits on their own, well after you have presented them. The meaning of your exhibits should be evident to the jurors when they look back at them. This suggests that you should design your exhibits so that they can be easily looked at afterwards.
You might be tempted to create a flashy, three-dimensional, moving exhibit that reconstructs events for the jurors. Unfortunately, though, you just never know when machinery or materiel in the courtroom may not work. Create your exhibit in advance, make a video copy, and introduce the video as your demonstrative exhibit. The jury can easily review such a video, whereas they would not be able to reconstruct a live demonstration.
Here is your opportunity to be a great teacher. When you present demonstrative exhibits you have an opportunity to be active, frequently to leave the witness box, to have your voice express your enthusiasm, and to be physically more engaging to the jury. Let your enthusiasm and excitement for the subject matter, your exhibits, and your results just spill over from you to the jurors. Don't overact, but realize the opportunity for some acting.
Have your demonstrative exhibits covered until you are ready to use them. If they are visible to the jurors before you are ready to discuss them, they will distract the jurors from your testimony. On the other hand, leave them uncovered after you use them during direct testimony. They will continue to affect the jury by being visible. Also, you will be able to refer to them during cross examination if you wish. A skilled cross examiner will not let you go back to your demonstrative exhibits during his cross examination. It will be to your benefit if you have 'neglected' to cover them up and if he has neglected to remove them from the jury's view.
Judd Robbins has been an internationally recognize
You might be tempted to create a flashy, three-dimensional, moving exhibit that reconstructs events for the jurors. Unfortunately, though, you just never know when machinery or materiel in the courtroom may not work. Create your exhibit in advance, make a video copy, and introduce the video as your demonstrative exhibit. The jury can easily review such a video, whereas they would not be able to reconstruct a live demonstration.
Here is your opportunity to be a great teacher. When you present demonstrative exhibits you have an opportunity to be active, frequently to leave the witness box, to have your voice express your enthusiasm, and to be physically more engaging to the jury. Let your enthusiasm and excitement for the subject matter, your exhibits, and your results just spill over from you to the jurors. Don't overact, but realize the opportunity for some acting.
Have your demonstrative exhibits covered until you are ready to use them. If they are visible to the jurors before you are ready to discuss them, they will distract the jurors from your testimony. On the other hand, leave them uncovered after you use them during direct testimony. They will continue to affect the jury by being visible. Also, you will be able to refer to them during cross examination if you wish. A skilled cross examiner will not let you go back to your demonstrative exhibits during his cross examination. It will be to your benefit if you have 'neglected' to cover them up and if he has neglected to remove them from the jury's view.
Judd Robbins has been an internationally recognize
Here is your opportunity to be a great teacher. When you present demonstrative exhibits you have an opportunity to be active, frequently to leave the witness box, to have your voice express your enthusiasm, and to be physically more engaging to the jury. Let your enthusiasm and excitement for the subject matter, your exhibits, and your results just spill over from you to the jurors. Don't overact, but realize the opportunity for some acting.
Have your demonstrative exhibits covered until you are ready to use them. If they are visible to the jurors before you are ready to discuss them, they will distract the jurors from your testimony. On the other hand, leave them uncovered after you use them during direct testimony. They will continue to affect the jury by being visible. Also, you will be able to refer to them during cross examination if you wish. A skilled cross examiner will not let you go back to your demonstrative exhibits during his cross examination. It will be to your benefit if you have 'neglected' to cover them up and if he has neglected to remove them from the jury's view.
Judd Robbins has been an internationally recognized expert witness since 1986 in the US and in the UK. He has testified in State and Federal courts and has been featured as a testifying computer forensics expert on MSNBC, Court TV, and Tech TV. His cases range widely from intellectual property infringement to murder. He has been a best-selling author of more than 30 training and computer books and has created more than 25 training DVDs and videos. In 2010, his book "Expert Witness Training" was published by Presentation Dynamics. Robbins has advanced degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan, has been an Information Systems manager and an Education Systems manager, and consults in both computer and legal issues. Learn more about Mr. Robbins and his Expert Witness Training materials at http://www.juddrobbins.com
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Judd Robbins - EzineArticles Expert Author
Have your demonstrative exhibits covered until you are ready to use them. If they are visible to the jurors before you are ready to discuss them, they will distract the jurors from your testimony. On the other hand, leave them uncovered after you use them during direct testimony. They will continue to affect the jury by being visible. Also, you will be able to refer to them during cross examination if you wish. A skilled cross examiner will not let you go back to your demonstrative exhibits during his cross examination. It will be to your benefit if you have 'neglected' to cover them up and if he has neglected to remove them from the jury's view.
Judd Robbins has been an internationally recognized expert witness since 1986 in the US and in the UK. He has testified in State and Federal courts and has been featured as a testifying computer forensics expert on MSNBC, Court TV, and Tech TV. His cases range widely from intellectual property infringement to murder. He has been a best-selling author of more than 30 training and computer books and has created more than 25 training DVDs and videos. In 2010, his book "Expert Witness Training" was published by Presentation Dynamics. Robbins has advanced degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan, has been an Information Systems manager and an Education Systems manager, and consults in both computer and legal issues. Learn more about Mr. Robbins and his Expert Witness Training materials at http://www.juddrobbins.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judd_Robbins
Judd Robbins - EzineArticles Expert Author