HUBRIS IN THE COURTROOM

by

Walter Walker

Firm partner Walter “Skip” Walker presented at the 2021 Western Trial Lawyers Association’s Summer Seminar, held in Maui, Hawaii from June 7 – 11. This conference brings together trial lawyers from around the country. As the association’s website says, “From Masters of the Courtroom to litigation neophytes, everyone leaves WTLA seminars with a renewed passion for justice coupled with exciting new ideas to serve their clients.”

This year, Skip tackled the topic “Hubris in the Courtroom.” Following is an outline of his presentation topic.

            I.          Ingratiating in Voir Dire

                        A.        You ain’t Brad Pitt, JLo, Michelle or Barack Obama

                        B.        The perils of eliciting agreement

            II.        Your Clients

                        A.        Is it enough that your client is damaged and in need?

                        B.        Is it enough that your client is likable, admirable, sympathetic?

            III.       What Makes the Jury Like You, and Does it Make Any Difference?

                        –           Your appearance?

                        –           Your eloquence?

                        –           Your humor?

                        –           Your equipment?

                        –           Your posse (assistants)?

                        –           The way you treat others?

                                    –           opponents

                                    –           courtroom staff

                                    –           your staff

                                    –           your witnesses

                                    –           opponent’s witnesses

                        –           The way the judge treats you?

            IV.       Beware the Smiling Juror

            V.        Winning Over the Shut-Down Juror and is it Worthwhile?

            VI.       Presenting Experts

                        A.        Qualifications alone will not suffice

                        B.        It’s not that hard to qualify

                                    – Special knowledge, skill, experience, training or education in the field to which his/her testimony relates (CACI 219)

                                    – “the weight of the evidence”

                        C.        Paying for damage experts does not automatically translate into damages

                                    – the overreaching

                                    – the overcharging

                                    – the overused

                        D.        The effects of paying “Big Money”

            VII.     Closing Argument

                        A.        At that point, does the jury really want to hear everything you have to say?

                                    – the evidence of liability

                                    – the evidence of damages

                                    – the total misimpression that your opponent wishes to impose

                                    – the instructions (law)

                                    – the verdict form

                        B.        Does the jury want to hear it for two hours — three?

                        C.        Can you bring something new?

                                    –           the power of analogies

                                    –           the reminder of something good, strong, positive

            VIII.    The Mission

                        –           It’s not you, and it might not even be your client