Author Description

The Practical Trial Handbook is a concise and practical treatise on the rules of evidence, trial procedures, and basic trial skills and strategies that every attorney must know in order to competently and effectively try any type of case in any jurisdiction. The handbook explains the fundamentals of a court or jury trial, from the motion in limine to the final argument, and everything in between. Topics of discussion include pre-trial procedures, jury selection, witness testimony, opening statements, direct and cross-examination, witness impeachment and rehabilitation, foundational requirements for the admissibility of evidence, hearsay and other exclusionary rules, expert witnesses, trial objections, character evidence, and closing argument. This edition focuses on the Federal Rule of Evidence (FRE) and basic trial procedure, with reference to Federal and California case law, making it applicable not only to Federal Court, but also to state court jurisdictions that follow or mirror the Federal Rules. Written by a retired trial court judge with 36 years of experience in the courtroom, the handbook also includes more than 150 "Trial Tips," practical real-world advice by the author on trying a case that cannot be learned in the classroom nor found in other trial treatises. They provide not only basic "how to" advice, but also give suggestions on trial tactics or strategies the author has found to be effective. These informal and wide-ranging "Trial Tips" are found throughout the handbook for nearly every stage of a trial and are what sets this handbook apart from the other trial guides. Regardless of the type of case or the jurisdiction, the same basic rules of evidence and trial procedure apply. Furthermore, in every trial an attorney must possess the requisite basic trial skills and knowledge to try the case, e.g., the ability to question witnesses, introduce evidence, or argue the merits. Practical Trial Handbook is des