Recent Articles

What Research Skills Do Lawyers Need?

Mary Whisner
March 20, 2012 18:37

The American Association of Law Libraries is currently conducting a survey of legal practitioners to identify the current and future research skills that law school graduates need to succeed in legal practice. This information will help law schools determine how to develop their curriculum to meet...

Prosecutor Found to Have Commented on Case Using Alias

Mary Whisner
March 20, 2012 18:37

A New Orleans businessman being investigated by the local U.S. Attorney noticed that comments on the local newspaper's website seemed to show an insider's knowledge of the case. He hired a forensic linguist to analyze the comments, which were found to match the writing style of court filings from...

Defendant Has Right to Be Present During All Jury Selection

Mary Whisner
February 28, 2012 04:03

A defendant is headed for a second trial for first-degree murder after his first conviction was reversed because he had not been present for all aspects of jury selection. Biker convicted in ‘no-body’ Ravensdale killing headed for new trial, SeattlePI.com, Feb. 26, 2012.The Court of Appeals case is...

Juries for South Korea

Mary Whisner
February 24, 2012 04:13

UW grad Steven Kim ('00) has the combination of trial experience and fluency in Korean needed to train Korean officials in the how the U.S. jury system works. King County prosecutor to help South Korea establish jury system, Seattle Times, Jan. 30, 2012. (This article is a few weeks old, but I...

Judge again rebukes lawyers who want him to step down

Mary Whisner
February 21, 2012 19:06

Defense attorneys for the men accused of killing a corrections officer in Monroe asked the judge to step down because of his allegedly flawed understanding of the law and improper behavior in an earlier case. That's only part of the friction between the judge and the lawyers. Judge again rebukes...

Jurors Excused Because of Views Toward Immigrants

Mary Whisner
February 21, 2012 18:49

In the Franklin County trial of a Mexican for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Judge excuses some jurors because of opinion about immigrants, Tri-City Herald, Feb. 14, 2012.

Public Defender Benefits (King County), Staffing (Skagit County)

Mary Whisner
February 21, 2012 18:24

Two public defender news items:A recent class action lawsuit resulted in a ruling that King County public defenders, although termed contractors, are basically employees and should be covered by the state's pension plan. Dolan v. King County, 172 Wn.2d 299, legalwa.org link (2011). See State...

Lawyer Tries to Use Facebook Against Opposing Counsel

Mary Whisner
February 21, 2012 06:37

Lots of people talk about using Facebook, Twitter, et al. to learn about parties and jurors. This blog posts discusses using social media against a lawyer: When Opposing Counsel Uses Your Facebook Friendship Against You, Legal Blog Watch, Feb. 8, 2012. A lawyer at a mediation said that the other...

Plaintiff Bias in Philadelphia Courts?

Mary Whisner
February 21, 2012 06:19

A law professor has conducted a study finding that Philadelphia courts are more attractive to plaintiffs than other courts and hence many plaintiffs with no connection to the area file suit there. Study shows plaintiff bias in Philly courts, LegalNewsline.com, Feb. 6, 2012. A plaintiff's lawyer...

Trial Lawyer Litigation Tip: The Importance of Listening

Mary Whisner
February 20, 2012 03:38

Rob Sullivan, a lawyer in Kansas City, MO, offers this Trial Lawyer Litigation Tip: The Importance of Listening, Lawyerology!, Feb. 17, 2012.Listening is a key component to the art of communication and persuasion. Nevertheless, the majority of the time I observe lawyers questioning deponents, they...