By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Here is a recent bit of media research that carries some relevance to corporate defense. According to researchers at Ohio University (Grizzard et al, 2019), when we are being entertained — reading a book, taking in a movie, or watching television — we prefer moral characters. That might seem obvious, […]
Highlight the Company’s ‘Character Morality’ Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: In the days leading up to trial, you wrestle with the task of creating an opening statement in a complex case. Of course, you remember the core advice from your very first trial advocacy class, but the sheer complexity at this stage seems to be an obstacle. “How do I even start
Develop Your Story Early Read More »
by Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The simplest way to think about persuasion is as a transaction: You step up and make your best pitch, and then your target audience either accepts it or doesn’t. The conversational way of talking about whether our audience “buys what we’re selling” reinforces that view. But the more you think
Prime Before Persuasion Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Our trial system is based on the ideal of a neutral fact-finder. And as much as the social science tells us that this blank slate does not actually exist, it remains true that jurors will try very hard to keep an open mind. No, they won’t be able to, as
Remember, an Open Mind is a Finite Resource Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Within the last week, I have conducted two mock trials on cases that are strongly susceptible to hindsight. In both defense cases, once you know the outcome, it is very easy to see past events or conditions as big red flags predicting that outcome. But, the defense was that, without
Don’t Just Warn About Hindsight Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Next time you’re in a public place, look around at all the people and what they’re doing. Looking at their phones? Yes! Nearly all of them. Now, some might be working. Some could be keeping up on the news or reading great works of literature. But it is likely that
Tap Into Your Jurors’ Reward System Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: First, a pet peeve I just have to get off my chest: It is not called a “podium,” it is called a “lectern.” A podium is a platform that you stand on in order to be seen by an audience. And if you don’t believe me (because you have called
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: It is the classic scenario for a false confession: The suspect sits in a small room answering the same questions over and over again as the detective repeating those questions grows more and more exasperated. Finally, as the suspect has been worn down by the unvarying inquisition, or perhaps out
Know the Perils of a Repeated Question Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The judge looks up at the parties before her, exasperated. Frankly sharing her view that this case really needs to settle, she also implicitly wields the undecided pretrial motions as a weapon. “Let’s resolve this case” is her message, “or you really may not like the result!” In this kind of scenario,
Resist the Judge’s Nudges: Sometimes Trial Is Better Than Settlement Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The trial consulting field seems to fly mostly under the radar. As a part of the attorney’s confidential work product, our role in conducting research, preparing witnesses, and helping to advise on jury selection is not generally in the public’s view. But with some regularity, the topic comes up, with
See Trial Consulting as a Proper Part of the Adversarial System Read More »