- Jurors go into civil trials expecting witnesses to tell the truth (72% believe witnesses will be as honest as possible).
- Most (60%) jurors believe that a witness making a statement that's inconsistent with earlier statements is lying, rather than making an honest mistake.
- Few jurors said that an inconsistency would make them disregard everything the witness said. They look to behavioral clues.
- Jurors will cut a witness slack if told that the inconsistency could be the result of the stress of being in the courtroom.
From 2005 to 2015 this blog presented news items and resources relating to trial advocacy and the legal system, with a focus on Washington State. It was developed to support the Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Washington School of Law, but broadened to include appellate practice, the courts, access to justice, and related topics. It is no longer active.
Friday, June 29, 2007
An Empirical Study Of The Value of Impeaching With Prior Inconsistent Statements
Two jury consultants and an attorney provide a long summary of their findings from a study of mock jurors: An Empirical Study Of The Value of Impeaching With Prior Inconsistent Statements, Drug and Device Law, May 15, 2007. My summary of the summary:
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