By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: “Love” may mean, “Never having to say your sorry,” but litigation does not mean that. In some defense cases, sure, what’s needed is an all-out answer that denies everything the plaintiff is saying. But in other cases, there might be something to apologize for. Consider, for example, a large corporation’s […]
Find Your Six Ways to Sorry Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: It looks like we are heading into another one of those times, like the OJ or Casey Anthony trials, when all of the nation’s attention will be fixated on an interesting and high-stakes legal process. As the impeachment inquiry moves into the public realm this week, it is sure to
Trial Lawyers, Watch how Americans Watch the Impeachment Process Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: In our age, the social networks and airwaves are awash in fake news and rumors of fake news. In that context, it seems, people respond by seeking refuge in their own fortresses. That means doubling down on their core ideological beliefs and rejecting anything that comes from a different perspective.
Practice Prebunking Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Last Thursday’s verdict marked a dramatic reversal, and was hailed as a sign of the times. Bill Cosby was found guilty on all counts in the drugging and sexual assault of Andrea Constand 14 years ago. She is one of 60 women accusing the comedian, and the trial represented a second
Understand the Legal Challenge, Even in a #MeToo Era Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: For those defending the reality of human-induced climate change, it is a familiar datapoint: A consensus of 97 percent of climate scientists supports the conclusion that our species is contributing to global warming and other effects on the climate. Climate change skeptics, of course, have their own consensus: a “Petition
Account for Social Facts Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Black Americans, especially but not exclusively those on the lower-economic rung, often have a different experience with police and the justice system. That difference makes them more likely to believe they’ve been discriminated against, or to believe more generally, that they get greater attention and less protection from the law.
Expect Support for Civil Litigation to Vary by Race and Social Status Read More »
by Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Movies about courtroom trials are enjoyed by lawyers and the general public alike. The genre has earned its place among the classics with titles like: To Kill a Mockingbird, 12 Angry Men, Witness for the Prosecution, Inherit the Wind, and even My Cousin Vinnie. But there is one commonality in all of those movies:
Learn From (the Lack of) Civil Trial Movies Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Every once in a while, popular culture rediscovers the idea that trial consultants exist. In 1995, it was the O.J. Simpson trial, then in 2003 it was the John Grisham novel turned movie, Runaway Jury. In the years between and since, that attention has been sparked periodically during media saturated trials
Call Bull on Media Representations of Trial Consultants Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Chants of “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and “I Can’t Breathe,” continue to be heard at protests around the country. Motivated by the Ferguson, Missouri police shooting of Michael Brown, as well as the choke-hold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, these protests testify to a rising distrust
Don’t Confuse Certainty with Accuracy when It Comes to Witness Testimony Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: Here’s a riddle for you: Going into the midterm elections, approval ratings for Congress hovered at just around 14 percent, yet the win rate for Congressional incumbents was 96.6 percent. How can we reconcile those numbers? Americans have an incredibly low opinion of the institution, yet overwhelmingly return the same
Account for Fenno’s Paradox: We Don’t Judge Groups Like We Judge Individuals Read More »