Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1985
Publication Information
11 William Mitchell Law Review 775 (1985)
Abstract
Knowing how a judge will react to certain trial techniques in a trial can greatly enhance an attorney's effectiveness in the courtroom. This article contains and explains the results of the authors' empirical survey. Fifty-nine judges serving in both criminal and civil court in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area were surveyed, with each judge responding to thirty-eight questions designed to obtain objective information concerning their experiences and views on effective trial advocacy. The survey covered eight topics: (1) trial briefs; (2) pretrial chambers discussions; (3) opening statements; (4) direct and cross-examinations; (5) evidentiary matters; (6) closing arguments; (7) findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (8) quality of lawyer presentations. This article contains eight topic sections, each section containing a concise analysis of the respective topic and specific survey findings including tabulations of specific answers and listings of narrative explanatory responses.
Repository Citation
Sonsteng, John O. and Haydock, Roger S., "Court Trial Empirical Survey: Interview Responses from Trial Judges Explaining Their Experiences and Views Regarding the Trial of Non-Jury Cases" (1985). Faculty Scholarship. 132.
https://open.mitchellhamline.edu/facsch/132
Included in
Civil Law Commons, Courts Commons, Judges Commons, Legal Education Commons
Comments
This article is co-authored with Elizabeth Shields, James Schaps, Roman Kozak, Joan Wandke Nelson, Dani Shimon, Joan Kaufhold, Walter Krebsbach, Joan Tietjen & Carla Wacker.