Trial Advocacy

PROSECUTOR POST - Here is a helpful tip from a Texas prosecutor on Trial Advocacy in the criminal courtroom:

After years of practicing in criminal courts, I've seen numerous courtroom styles from criminal defense attorneys. One of the most prominent is the "grandstand" (a.k.a. Posturing). I would define the "grandstand" as attempted behavior exhibited by an attorney to establish dominance in the courtroom. Please note that word - attempted. From yelling to whining to stomping around and slamming things on counsel's table, I've seen it all. Sometimes this behavior isn't intentional but actual passionate investment, but more often than not I can see it's a show for the client.

The client wants the bulldog lawyer in the courtroom. At least that's what I hear. I think some of what I'm referencing is an attempt by these lawyers to be that bulldog by "grandstanding." However, in my experience, these attorneys that "grandstand" in court, end up looking like the yipping chihuahua instead of the bulldog. And it's funny to see the look on the defendant's face when he realizes he's hired the yipping chihuahua.

The more effective style I've seen is the old German Shepherd approach. The attorney that comes in and exudes that high level of comfort in the courtroom. He's professional to everyone (including state's counsel) and acts in a way that sends the message to his client - "yes, I've been here several times before." Does he "grandstand?" No. He establishes dominance by respecting the balance b/w the defense, the state and the bench. Does he bark? Sometimes. But only when there's cause. And when he barks everyone hears it and respects it.

A Contribution From our Texas prosecutor friend:

I had a discussion with a defense attorney today about the dynamic relationships that develop between prosecutors and defense attorneys.  Relationships that, like it or not, become very intricate in the resolution of criminal cases.  This conversation started after we had finished watching a heated exchange between a different prosecutor and defense attorney.  He started by pointing out how there's not much to gain by creating a hostile relationship with a prosecutor.  He described his fear of creating problems for future clients because of bad past relationship with a prosecutor.

I explained how prosecutors are aware of that fear and how our goal is to set aside the personal aspect of negotiations and not to punish a defendant on account of who he happened to hire as his defense attorney.  We try and look at the case and defendant separately from the attorney.  He agreed he didn’t feel most prosecutors seek to punish the unfortunate client of a defense attorney who recklessly handles business with the prosecution, but quickly added how subconsciously it might be an underlying factor when a prosecutor decides how he's going to handle a case.  Again, I stressed we try not to behave that way, but then again, I can't speak for every prosecutor.

Common sense tells you that honey attracts more bees than vinegar and that pissing someone off on a consistent basis might render less than preferable results when it comes to working something out with that person.  The personal aspect of dealing in an adversarial system is often too hard for some attorneys to set aside.  So, they take things personally.  Negotiations are bound to get heated when you deal with one party protecting something (in this case the liberty of their client) and the other trying to take it away.  And it should!  Criminal cases shouldn't be taken lightly by either side, but passion doesn't have to trump professionalism.

There's not really a how-to on not taking it personal.  Just something you have to practice I suppose.

Depositions are most often used in civil cases.  But that doesn't have to be the case.  Depositions can be quite effective in criminal cases as well, especially cases that have out-of-town witnesses, or others that may later become unavailable for trial.  The latest issue of The Champion, the newsletter of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), has a good article about Taking an Effective Deposition in a Criminal Case.

Chapter 39 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs depositions for criminal cases in Texas.  That is the place to start if you think a deposition might be appropriate for your case.

*A note from past experience: If you are planning to take a deposition of a foreign national in another country, please be sure to research the host nation's laws on depositions.  I almost messed that one up with a deposition I had to take in Okinawa.

a question that commits a prospective juror to resolve or to refrain from resolving an issue a certain way after learning of a particular fact. Commitment questions are impermissible unless the law requires a commitment, and the law does not require a commitment on what facts a juror will consider during sentencing.

The CCA also cautions, however, that “a trial court abuses its discretion if it disallows a proper voir dire question.”

In Davis v. State, a case decided by the CCA last month, the defense counsel asked the venire panel the follow question:

Let’s talk about factors in [assessing] the sentence in a case of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, what factors do y’all think are important?

Despite counsel’s fine use of the word “y’all,” and without any objection to the question by the State, the trial judge interjected, saying, “that’s a commitment question. You can’t ask that question.” On appeal, the 14th District Court of Appeal (Houston) agreed.

The CCA now reverses, holding that

appellant’s counsel asked “what factors…are important” in sentencing. This did not ask the jurors how particular facts would influence their deliberations. This was an inquiry into the jurors’ general philosophies.

There you have it. Cases regarding commitment questions are always very fact dependant, but for now, we can add one more to the list. Counsel may properly ask: "What factors are important in assessing the sentence in a [name your offense] case."

Presiding Judge Keller penned the lone dissent.  She deems the question an improper commitment question.