Legal News

Trial Lawyer Finds Inspiration in Movie ?Animal House?

By Dan Slater

We hear lots of highfalutin theories about trial strategy and how to manage jury psychology, but a courtroom approach based on a fictional fraternity speech is new to us. And that, of course, is why we read the New York Post’s Page Six everyday - for enlightenment on complicated legal issues.

According to the gossip column, defense lawyer Mickey Sherman’s forthcoming memoir, “How Can You Defend Those People?” explains that, like the boys of Delta House in the 1978 classic comedy, “Animal House,” Sherman tries to sidestep the issue of guilt by blaming the system. Just like the frat boys do in the 1978 comedy.

In the memoir, Sherman, the lawyer for Michael Skakel, who was convicted in 2002 for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, reportedly writes: “After a long list of infractions are rattled off, Otter stands up and declares that any criticism of his fraternity is the same as . . . indicting the entire American education system, and ’say what you will about the Delta House, but we won’t stand for anyone trying to put down the United States of America.’ I guess it speaks volumes about my oratory skills, or lack thereof, that I rely on the movie ‘Animal House’ to advocate for my causes.”

Law Blog YouTube Clips of the Day: For all those who don’t remember the scene that proved so instructive to Sherman, click here for Eric “Otter” Stratton’s impassioned speech. And speaking of impassioned speeches by lawyers — real and would-be — Barack Obama’s speech in Philadelphia yesterday seems to have assumed news-of-the-day status. Feel free to sound off!

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on March 19, 2008 (boomark / email).