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Author: Paul Luvera

Luvera practiced plaintiff law 55 years. He is past President of the Inner Circle of Advocates & Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Member ABOTA, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy, International Society of Barristers and the American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame. Book Luvera on Advocacy available at Trial Guides Publishing Email paul@luvera.org
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION AND A FIRST IMPRESSION IS A LASTING ONE

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION AND A FIRST IMPRESSION IS A LASTING ONE

Rachel Premak, writing for a career assistance website Ladders, (https://www.theladders.com) wrote an article about things people decide within seconds of meeting you. First impressions are of particular importance to us as trial lawyers. We know that jurors, like everyone else, are continually forming impressions. When they are called to jury service they have a lot of questions and are searching for information. They are looking at people involved in the trial and wondering about their roles as well as forming…

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GERRY SPENCE’S DEFENSE IN THE RUBY RIDGE CASE TOLD AS A STORY

GERRY SPENCE’S DEFENSE IN THE RUBY RIDGE CASE TOLD AS A STORY

We know the importance of presenting our cases as stories to the jury. In 1996 Dr. Daniel Gross published an article in the Trial Diplomacy Journal about it based on Gerry Spence’s defense in the Ruby Ridge trial in Idaho. The article deals with the place of storytelling in the courtroom. It notes that scholars claim that a narrative is the essence of human symbolic activity because humans are characteristically storytellers. The article notes the importance of the timing of…

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THE CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE PRIEST ABOUT “ACTS OF GOD”

THE CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE PRIEST ABOUT “ACTS OF GOD”

At the request of a friend, who wanted me to write an interesting story about one of my jury trials I sent him a description of a jury trial I had over 50 years ago in Skagit County Superior Court. You will not learn anything from the case but I feel motivated to share with you. I still smile when I think about that trial The case I filed on behalf of a Catholic priest was defended by my late…

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