Wednesday, September 06, 2006
PC Tip of the Day
The two days of watching opening statements were... long. Very long. In all, though, this group is above average, and this is the first group in years where no one devolved into a terrified, silent statue. Also, no one committed a felony by bringing a real gun into the school. A few tips, though:
1) Avoid the use of air quotes. If you are the prosecutor, it really undermines your credibility if you make the air quotes sign every time you say the defendant is "guilty."
2) Check your fly BEFORE standing up, not as part of your introduction of your client.
3) If you stall out for a bit, don't fill up the silence by sighing deeply with your hands on your hips while shaking your head from side to side in a resigned sort of way.
4) If you are miming an imaginary gun firing as part of a homicide, it is usually unnecessary to include sound effects ("BLAM! BLAM!" "Aaaaaaaggggg...")
1) Avoid the use of air quotes. If you are the prosecutor, it really undermines your credibility if you make the air quotes sign every time you say the defendant is "guilty."
2) Check your fly BEFORE standing up, not as part of your introduction of your client.
3) If you stall out for a bit, don't fill up the silence by sighing deeply with your hands on your hips while shaking your head from side to side in a resigned sort of way.
4) If you are miming an imaginary gun firing as part of a homicide, it is usually unnecessary to include sound effects ("BLAM! BLAM!" "Aaaaaaaggggg...")
