Trial Procedures | Cast of Characters | The Trial of Thomas Carter | Jury Selection Trial Strategy | Opening Statements | Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
Rules of Evidence | Closing Statements | Instructing the Jury

Key Step: Trial Procedures

The Five Main Steps of a Jury Trial Explanation of the basic steps.

An Anatomy of a Criminal Trial

Famous Trials Extensive information about historic famous trials.

Court TV's Famous Cases More recent famous trials.

Simpson Trial Transcripts Transcripts from both the civil and criminal trials of O.J. Simpson.

Case Notes: Cast of Characters

Trial Courts: Courtroom Players Brief depiction of the different participants in a criminal trial.

Case Notes: The Trial of Thomas Carter

Key Step: Jury Selection

Selection of a Jury Explanation to California jurors of the process.

Jury--General Information Explanation to prospective jurors by Los Angeles Superior Court.

How to Pick A Jury Advice from legendary defense attorney Clarence Darrow on how to pick a jury, as printed in Esquire in 1936.

Effective Voir Dire Tips on how to select a jury.

Tips For Understanding and Identifying Juror Bias Aimed many at civil lawsuits but also helpful for criminal trials.

Decision Quest A trial consulting firm that helps in high-stakes jury cases.

Jury Research Institute Another trial consulting firm providing services such as mock trials, focus groups, surveys, and jury selection.

Batson v. Kentucky (1986) Supreme Court decision ruling that prosecutors excluding people from juries on the basis of race violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Georgia v. McCollum (1992) Supreme Court decision ruling that the defense excluding people from juries on the basis of race violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

J.E.B. v. Alabama (1994) Supreme Court decision ruling that excluding people from juries on the basis of gender violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Exercising Peremptory Challenges in Light of J.E.B. Tips on how to conduct voir dire in light of the new decisions by the Supreme Court.

Case Notes: Trial Strategy

Developing a Defense Strategy Pointers for defendants and defense attorneys. (Nolo Press)

Case Notes: Opening Statements

Persuasion at Trial: Opening Statements Tips on making an effective opening statement.

An Example of a Prosecution Opening Statement From a 1996 murder trial.

An Example of a Defense Opening Statement From the same 1996 murder trial.

Case Notes: Direct and Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial Evidence Extended definition from the 'Lectric Law Library.

Case Notes: Rules of Evidence

Federal Rules of Evidence

Persuasion at Trial: Cross-examination Tips on conducting an effective cross-examination.

Persuasion at Trial: Direct Examination Tips on conducting an effective direct examination.

Tips for Increasing the Effectiveness of Witnesses

Making Better Witnesses-The LOFT Model More tips on making witnesses more effective.

Case Notes: Closing Statements

Persuasion at Trial: Closing Arguments Tips on making an effective closing statement.

Closing Argument of John Doar In the 1967 Mississippi Burning case.

Closing Argument of Clarence Darrow In the 1925 case of People v. Ossian Sweet.

Case Notes: Instructing the Jury

Jury Instructions in O.J. Simpson Case

Model Criminal Jury Instructions For the Eighth Circuit Court. (PDF file)

Finding Jury Instructions Links to many sources of jury instructions.

The Answer Book for Jury Service Prepared for jurors serving in the state of Virginia.

High Court Warns About Test for Reasonable Doubt Article on U.S. Supreme Court decision on the test for reasonable doubt.

Sandoval v. California and Victor v. Nebraska (1994) Text of the Supreme Court decision on reasonable doubt.

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