Litigation

Cross Examination for Students and Practitioners

By Evan Schaeffer

There's a new book about cross-examination in the Aspen Coursebook Series: "Cross-Examination Handbook: Persuasion, Strategies, and Techniques," by Ronald H. Clark, George R. Dekle, Sr., and William S. Bailey.

According to the authors, the book is "designed for law students and for both inexperienced and experienced trial lawyers." You can find a list of the book's chapters at its companion website. The authors have also launched a weblog, aptly titled "Cross-Examination Blog."

The book includes chapters about various types of cross-examination, with an emphasis on planning and strategy. The chapters are illustrated, in part, with examples drawn from real-life trial transcripts. These include a cross of Ted Bundy ("concession-seeking cross") and Mark Fuhrman by F. Lee Bailey ("impeachment by contradiction").

The book also contains a number of practical tips for all aspects of cross-examination, some of which I'll feature on this weblog from time to time.

The Cross Examination Handbook is available from Aspen Publishers or from Amazon.

Full post as published by The Illinois Trial Practice Blog on March 30, 2011 (boomark / email).