Mastering the art of preparing witnesses

This is the second in a series of books published by the ABA under the title "From the Trenches." This second volume, "Mastering the Art of Witness Preparation," contains 12 chapters covering all aspects of witness preparation. Whether you are a first-time, second-chair associate or a veteran first-chair partner preparing for your 100th jury trial, this book will provide guidance, thoughtful insights, and unique perspectives on preparing your witness to testify

• Preface p. ix
• About the Authors p. xi
• Part I Introduction and Ethics
• Chapter 1 Witness Preparation Primers Inviting a Witness to Provide Truthful and Favorable Testimony p. 3 Michael L. O'Donnell and LaMar F. Jost
• The Permissible Scope of Witness Preparation p. 4
• Witness Preparation Methodology p. 5
• Conclusion p. 16
• Chapter 2 Between Twilight and Dawn: The Ethics of Witness Preparation p. 17 James M. Miller
• Tell the Truth p. 17
• Competent and Zealous Advocacy Requires Witness Preparation 18
• Permissible Methods of Witness Preparation p. 19
• Conduct That Is Unethical in Witness Preparation p. 27
• Responsibilities Regarding Non-lawyer Assistance p. 30
• Conclusion: "Tamperproof Your Witness p. 30
• Part II Beyond the Basics
• Chapter 3 "Framing" the Cases Preparing the Witness for Her Role in the Picture p. 33 W. Scott O'Connell
• Overview p. 33
• Identifying What You Don't Know p. 34
• Learning What You Don't Know p. 34
• Discovering What Jurors Want to Know p. 35
• Roundtable the Case: An Alternative to Jury Focus Groups p. 36
• Using What You Learn to Frame the Case p. 36
• Preparing Witnesses Using the Frame p. 37
• Putting These Principles to Work: Some Practical Examples p. 38
• Conclusion p. 42
• Chapter 4 Fear and Arrogance; Witness Preparation of the Meek and the Mendacious p. 43 Honorable David T. Schultz
• The Problem of Fear p. 44
• Uncovering the Witness's Fear p. 44
• Preparing the Arrogant, Fearful Witness p. 49
• Preparing the Unafraid, Arrogant Witness p. 50
• Conclusion p. 51
• Chapter 5 Tagging In: Working with a Professional Trial Consultant to Assist with Witness Preparation p. 53 Jessalyn H. Zeigler and Charles G. Jarboe
• When Should Lawyers Consider Using a Trial Consultant for Witness Preparation? p. 54
• Discoverability and Credibility Issues p. 60
• It's "All about the Benjamins." Or Is It? p. 68
• Chapter 6 Preparing the Company Witness for Deposition p. 69 Sawnie A. McEntire
• Different Types of Witnesses p. 70
• First Orders of Business p. 71
• The Deposition Room p. 72
• Using Documents to Prepare the Witness p. 72
• Technique versus Content p. 74
• Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Facts p. 75
• Personal Knowledge and Speculation p. 76
• Responding to Different Types of Questions p. 77
• Identifying Loaded Questions p. 78
• Identifying Compound Questions p. 80
• Identifying Questions That Are Not Questions p. 80
• The "Possibility" Questions p. 81
• Summary Questions p. 82
• Document Sound Bites p. 83
• Freedom to Pause p. 83
• Understanding the Question p. 84
• Making Mistakes p. 84
• Pace and Tempo p. 85
• Testimony about Documents p. 86
• Additional Considerations for Corporate Representatives p. 87
• Conclusion p. 93
• Part III Expert Witnesses
• Chapter 7 Preparing the Expert Witness for Deposition p. 97 Jean L. Bertrand
• Introduction p. 97
• At the Deposition p. 98
• Immediately Before the Deposition p. 99
• A. Few Weeks Before the Deposition p. 104
• Plenty of Time Before "Plenty of Time" p. 108
• Conclusion p. 110
• Chapter 8 Dancing with Antaeus: Twelve Unusual Questions to Ask Your Expert p. 113 John Jerry Glas and Raymond C. Lewis
• How Can We Make This More Complicated? p. 114
• Why Are You Just Sitting There? p. 115
• Who Told You That You're Funny? p. 117
• What Is a Good Mistake I Can Make? p. 118
• What Are They Right About? p. 121
• What Does the Book Say? p. 121
• How Can We Make Their Case Better? p. 123
• What You Got That Theirs Ain't Got? p. 123
• What Do You Do All Day! p. 125
• What Are You Really an Expert In? p. 126
• Does Google Agree with You? p. 127
• What Do You Have to Say for Yourself? p. 128
• Conclusion p. 130
• Chapter 9 Queen's Gambit; Preparing Your Expert for the Chess Match of Cross-Examination p. 131 Daniel J. Stephenson
• Introduction p. 131
• Does Preparation Work? p. 133
• Substance: Tripartite Preparation p. 135
• The Expert's Qualifications p. 135
• Preparation on Case Facts p. 137
• Anticipating the Attack on the Expert's Scientific Methodology p. 139
• Style and Demeanor p. 141
• Special Considerations for the Virgin Expert Witness p. 143
• Conclusion p. 145
• Part IV Criminal and Special Proceedings
• Chapter 10 Dante's Guide: Preparing the Grand Jury Witness p. 149 Jackson R. Sharman III
• A Prosecution Tool p. 150
• The Grand Jury Is Secret p. 151
• No Defense Lawyers p. 151
• Disclosure of Grand Jury Proceedings p. 151
• Can My Client Talk to Others about Her Grand Jury Testimony? p. 152
• "Can What 1 Say Get Me in Trouble?": Grand Jury Subpoenas and Witness Protections p. 152
• Witness, Subject, or Target? p. 153
• "If I'm the Target, Will I Be Subpoenaed?" p. 155
• "This Isn't Fair. I Want to Tell My Side of the Story." p. 155
• "Will I Have to Take the Fifth Over and Over Again?" p. 156
• Preparation 101 p. 157
• Chapter 11 Getting Ready for the Biggest Stage: Preparing the Criminal Defendant Client to Testify p. 161 John R. Mitchell
• Introduction p. 161
• Are You Sure You Want to Do This? Making Sure the Client Knows and Understands the Risks of Testifying p. 162
• The Client Decides to Testify: Getting Ready p. 166
• What Tools Can Help the Client Prepare? p. 172
• Conclusion p. 172
• Chapter 12 Beyond the Courtroom: Preparing the Witness for Internal Investigations and Administrative and Congressional Hearings p. 173 Lewis S. Wiener and Ronald W. Zdrojeski and Meghana D. Shah
• Introduction p. 173
• Internal Investigations p. 174
• Administrative Hearings p. 184
• Congressional Hearings p. 188
• Conclusion p. 194
• Further Reading p. 195
• Index p. 197