Most criminal defense attorneys advise their clients to not take the stand. In some cases, that may be the best defense given the facts of the case. However, there are many circumstances when it is imperative that the client take advantage of the opportunity to tell their story to the jury. Recently, CPLS ,P.A. represented a client charged with battery of a hotel employee. We did three essential things to prepare him to testify:
- We had the client testify in several mock trials before focus groups. This gave both us and the client a chance to see how potential jurors might view his testimony. We did these mock trial sessions in actual courtrooms so that the client was prepared for the stress and rigor of taking the stand.
- We videotaped the client’s testimony and provided him with feedback. This allowed the client to eliminate various behaviors that may have distracted the jury from his presentation.
- We took the client through an aggressive mock cross-examination. This helped the client to be prepared for the prosecutor’s cross-examination.
At the end the case, the jury returned a verdict in 15 minutes. I believe that the client’s successful testimony was the primary reason for the acquittal.
At CPLS, P.A., our criminal defense team comprises attorneys who have over twenty years of experience in handling trials. Don’t just hire a plea attorney. Hire an attorney who knows how to prepare for and win a trial. For additional information or assistance, contact Attorney James Smith at (407) 647-7887. You can view the Criminal Defense services that CPLSA, P.A. offers here.
