Dear Reader,

Courtroom trials are unpredictable affairs. They never go according to script. Almost never, anyway. The witnesses and the lawyers (and the judge) are people, not robots, so you can never be sure what they will say or do.

That’s why good trial lawyers follow a cardinal rule. In the face of an unexpectedly harmful bit of testimony, never let the sting show. The jurors are people too, and they inevitably take cues from the lawyers. A witness’s answer may seem damaging to the prosecution, but if the prosecutor seems unfazed, jurors may doubt their first impression. I remember being taught this principle in law school. Even if your own witness says something unexpected and harmful to the case, not only should you appear unperturbed, but nod as if – of course – that is the answer I expected and thank you very much.

Q: “What were you doing just before you got a look at the man running away from the bank?”