Miscellaneous

Don't Cry for Me, Defense Counsel

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Admit it: you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror, you get pulled over, you roll down the window, and promptly start bawling.

Does it help? Sometimes. Did you do it on purpose? Hmm...

We've all heard about (and perhaps been involved in) proceedings that move us to tears. Now a prosecutor has filed a motion asking attorneys to "maintain composure" during an upcoming capital trial.

The prosecutor is female. The defender is male who wears a Lance Armstrong bracelet in court (see picture on the other end of the link, below). Last time he cried, his client got life.

What would you do for a client? Do you do it on purpose, or are you really so moved? Either way, does it work?

See No Crying in Court, Sheila McLaughlin, Cincinnati Enquirer (June 20, 2008).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).