Pop-Culture Legal Ploys/Theatrics

Samuel T. Cogley

Jack would like his thread to stay On Topic which is fair enough. So...

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

My favourite is the 'apology letter' in 'The Wire'. That and the '****' scene but that's not really related

Most certainly NSFW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOyvDRxK--o

Any others? Clips especially appreciated!

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Samuel T. Cogley

May as well close the thread actually after that Fred!

Kevin3

Got to love the theatrics of the American court system. What's the closest thing we have to shouting 'Objection!' during cross-examination?

Samuel T. Cogley

Kevin3 wrote: »

Got to love the theatrics of the American court system. What's the closest thing we have to shouting 'Objection!' during cross-examination?

From my extremely limited experience, the other-side simply getting to their feet seems to be enough for the Judge to interject -gently - if they feel there is cause to do so.

NUTLEY BOY

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

From my extremely limited experience, the other-side simply getting to their feet seems to be enough for the Judge to interject -gently - if they feel there is cause to do so.

A well timed and sufficiently loud clearing of the throat with a semblance of shuffling preparatory to standing up and an associated look of disgruntlement in the direction of the judge often obviates the actual necessity to get up and point out that your friend is actually leading the witness (as distinct from the evidence).

This only works if the judge is awake.:rolleyes:

NUTLEY BOY

Ploys can often come from the bench too.

I remember watching a case in the Dublin Circuit Court a few years ago. It was an action in nuisance. The plaintiff complained that smells emanating from a launderette near her flat were entering the premises and interfering with her basic use of the property.

The plaintiff came across on direct as a humble, decent and honest witness. Defence counsel was an overbearing arrogant ass who tried to suggest on cross that the plaintiff could not be seriously suggesting that the odours could even travel the relevant distance.

At this point his nibs interjected to say to defence counsel " Mr. X did you know that a gentleman moth can actually smell a lady moth at a distance of up to one mile". That evoked the only reply available when cornered "I am grateful my lord". Smack.....move along please

Peregrinus

Well, talking of ploys from the bench, I remember a case a good few years back where quite a well-known member of quite a well-know band was in court for possession of a quantity of a controlled substance larger than could be intended for his own consumption. In the boot of his car. In a pub car-park. In the company of a bunch of friends and hangers-on. To whom he was freely giving out of his plenty. The charge was possession with intent to supply. It was an open-and-shut case. A conviction was going to keep him out of the US, which would have, um, implications for the trajectory of his career.

A battery of seniors, juniors, solicitors etc attended. The lead senior stood up to indicate a guilty plea, make an acknowledgment of the facts, a fulsome indication of remorse, a firm purpose of amendment, etc, etc. Defendant acutely aware of his responsibility as a public figure, of his influence on young people, of the scourge of drug abuse. In fact, so concerned was he by this latter problem that he proposed to make a donation of five thousand pounds to the Coolmine Therapeutic Centre . . .

District Justice: I'm sorry, Mr X, I didn't quite catch that. Did you say "twenty-five thousand pounds"?

Senior [without missing a beat, or glancing around for instructions]: Yes, Justice, twenty-five thousand pounds.

The Probation Act was applied.