by Tracey R. Carpenter, Ph.D. and Susan Chiasson, Ph.D.
Trial attorneys are trained and educated to prepare for many aspects of trial, and may reasonably ask, “Why would I need a trial consultant? Will it increase my chances of winning if I have one helping me?” Most often, our answer to the title question is a resounding “yes.” This paper attempts to explain the general benefits of hiring a trial consultant as well as the specific types of cases where trial consultants can be most helpful. To answer the questions posed above, we consider what trial consultants can do...Read More
by Susan Chiasson, Ph.D. and Tracey R. Carpenter, Ph.D.
When a trial team prepares for a case in an unfamiliar venue, they need to know enough about the venue to help them shape their trial themes, refine technical and expert explanations, and prepare for jury selection. This kind of familiarity may begin with learning about the basic demographic profile of the venue, along with previous verdicts in the region. To be effective and beneficial, it must move beyond the basics to cover the beliefs, customs, and history of the community...Read More
by Tracey R. Carpenter, Ph.D. and Susan Chiasson, Ph.D.
Jury trials for acquaintance rape cases can be difficult for a prosecutor to win. There are usually no witnesses, and little or no conclusive evidence of use of force and lack of consent. It often becomes a case of “he said, she said’: the man says it was consensual sex and the woman says it was not. Absent physical evidence, jurors can be reluctant to hand down a conviction that will have a lasting negative effect on the defendant’s life. For the last three decades, social scientists...Read More