Getting the jurors in a DUI case to trust and like your Michigan DWI lawyer can be half the battle. It’s the lawyer’s job to get the jury to forget about the defendant and focus on whether the State has met its burden of proof.
The Effort Starts Early
The more organized and knowledgeable your Michigan DWI lawyer appears to be about all of the cases aspects, the more likely it is that your case will end well. That begins by being extremely prepared and presentable before the jury enters the courtroom, continues with introducing himself to them, and ends with the savvy to know that it is most important for the jury to understand that:
- What the defendant’s lawyer says is true
- The evidence being presented is accurate and honest
- The way the lawyer views the evidence and facts is more consistent with common sense and the judge’s instructions than the way the prosecutor viewed them
Efforts to be overly tough and adversarial end up being far less important than being able to convince the jurors that your lawyer is worthy of the juror’s acceptance and belief.
What the Effort Involves
In many respects, the trial is similar to an election: which people and which theory will the jurors vote for? Your Michigan DWI lawyer must present himself in a way that, at best, impresses the jurors and, at a minimum, does not alienate them. The lawyer’s attitude needs to be confident, but not cocky, abrasive, or condescending. All of your lawyer’s interactions with the jurors should be respectful and this cannot be overemphasized cogent and understandable. If the jurors cannot follow the lawyer’s theory of the evidence, the theory cannot possibly seem more realistic than the prosecution’s theory.
Remember that the jurors are probably anxious about taking part in the DUI case and nervous about their responsibility. Anything your Michigan DWI lawyer does to make them feel more comfortable will help. In essence, the lawyer should appear to the jurors as someone they can identify with, and with whom they would be comfortable talking in a social situation.
Experience counts. Call the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates at 800-961-8477.