SabrinaFair

Hello, all-
I am preparing for my first trial....OK, it's a mock trial for my Trial Practice course, but it's definitely my first time. As part of my preparation, I am watching courtroom scenes to pick up tactics I like. (This was actually recommended to the class by my professor) I've rented "My Cousin Vinny" and "To Kill A Mockingbird" for this weekend, as well as "Twelve Angry Men" (I figure it might give me some insight into juror psychology)

So I ask you, beloved TFP-ers--what are your favorite courtroom movies? Television shows? And what do you find effective about these fictitious lawyers? Do they give a passionate oratory? Do they have a particularly warm demeanor? I appreciate your help!

Best,
Sabrina

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filtherton

Muthafuckin any episode of Law and Order.

fresnelly

To Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent choice.

Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington is also excellent.

On a lighter note, try and find the South Park episode where Johnny Cochrane exploits his masterful "Chewbacca Defence"

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Amaras

I saw the title and ran here as quick as I could:
To kill a ..... damn, you named it already.
Gregory Peck seemed quiet and respectful towards everyone. He slowly led us down the path, bit by bit.
Thundering oration only really works for a very few. Quiet competence and politeness go a long way in my book.
Robert Ironside (Raymond Burr) wasn't too bad, once he was in the courtroom.
Still, for a mock trial, check out Matt Damon in Rounders for how not to argue a case.

Just some ideas.

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Willravel

Even though it's totally fantasy, I love Boston Legal. They could be arguing a child custody case and still, somehow, the Iraq War will get brought up in some amazing diatribe. Otherwise, I've always loved 12 Angry Men and Judgement at Nuremburg.

Still, reality and fiction don't seem to cross in this case. I've only been a juror once, but there were no impassioned speeches, no reading the witness the riot act, no dramatic and unexpected confessions on the stand. It was very much by the book. While it could be a matter of style to entertain a jury, it would be best to win the case on merits so you don't drive the judge insane.

There are several attorneys around on TFP. I'm sure they would have very good advice.

KirStang

Hey! Law student here too, 1L though. If you haven't seen it yet, there was a scene in 'Raising the bar' (I believe you can watch some of the episodes on TNT.tv), where the defense attorney came across as very affable. Something like, "I'm not going to take long, since I know we've all had a long day..." I used a similar tactic in an election speech the next week and won.

Good luck & let us know how it turns out!

Speed_Gibson

one of my favourites in the comic courtroom scene category is the Jack Benny episode from his TV show where he dreams he is on trial for killing a chicken. Perry Mason defends him and fails miserably; when Jack asks why when he always wins on his own show - " I don't know Jack, maybe I have better writers than you do."

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jewels

Witness for the Prosecution, Justice For All ... so many great ones.

+1 for Raising The Bar

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pig

Judd Nelson in "From the Hip." There's a book scene in the courtroom. If you watched, and remember, this movie you know the scene.

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dlish

its an aussie classic movie called The Castle.

shouldnt be missed. one of my favourite movies of all time. an early eric banna movie.

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spindles

It's the....vibe of the thing

I love the end scene of "A Few Good Men" - good drama - not necessarily good way to act in a courtroom.

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DonnieBoy

Devi's Advocate with Keannuuuuu Reeves!

Or Liar Liar with Jim Carrey's overacting! "105 pounds? Yeah in your Bra!"

levite

Just about any episode of the first few seasons of "The Practice."

Inherit The Wind
Amistad
+1 for A Few Good Men
Primal Fear, with Richard Gere and Edward Norton
Michael Clayton
I wasn't so hot on The Accused as a movie, but it does paint a good portrait of courtroom drama.
Presumed Innocent with Harrison Ford, although the novel was much better.
Anatomy of a Murder with Jimmy Stewart
The Ghosts of Mississippi
The Verdict
+1 for Witness for the Prosecution

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dksuddeth

my cousin vinny?

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roachboy

i like the trail sequence in the "caine mutiny"
but for bogart's speech about the strawberries mostly.

breaker morant is a great court film, if i remember correctly.
'Breaker' Morant (1980)

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SabrinaFair

More for laughs than actual preparation, but the prosecutor in that movie gives a pretty good opening argument....I took some notes on that.

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Junchbailey

A Time to Kill. Samuel L Jackson makes anything awesome.

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mrklixx

I just remembered one of my faves.

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SabrinaFair

Update: I had my trial on Saturday. It went very well.

Unfortunately, the courtroom was double-booked, so we had to make do in a classroom. We didn't have much space, so I wasn't able to move around as much I would have liked.

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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
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Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
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kinsaj

I love that one too...

Not quite a courtroom scene but for some reason this topic made me think of the greed speech in the movie Wall Street. maybe helpful?

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Psycho Dad

Well now that the mock trial is over with...

I love the court room scene from Big Daddy.

Sabrina... I'm curious as to how much you felt the movies helped. I've never been in a court room other than for small county situations (nothing criminal) so I don't have much experience to base off of. But I have would assumed that Hollywood depictions may not be too accurate so I was surprised that your professor recommended this.

I'd also assume as a law student you've seen real court room action. How would you say that action has compared to movies and TV?

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mrklixx

Didja badger any witnesses? Did you get warned about being in contempt? Did the judge say "you better be going somewhere with this"?

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ratbastid

I'm out of order? You're out of order! This whole court's out of order!

Leto

12 Angry Men. I just saw this screened at an MBA session on transformational leadership.

Not quite court ROOM, but evocative nonetheless.

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SabrinaFair

Psycho Dad-
I wouldn't say that Hollywood depictions are "accurate" assessments of courtroom procedure. However, they can be useful tools for dissecting certain approaches to find one's own style in the courtroom. Do you want to get in the witnesses face, or act nonchalant on cross? Which hand gestures are effective? That kind of thing. I didn't base my "performance" on movies, but I used them to figure out what I find effective.

I have seen quite a bit of courtroom action. Most of what I've seen is family court, though, and not very comparable. I have seen a couple of criminal trials. There are certain aspects of them that are comparable to the movies--the passionate opening argument, the subtle attempts to trap the witness of cross, etc. There is definitely still a theatrical aspect. Then again, it may have something to do with the fact that I live in the South.

Mrkilxx-
LOL, not exactly. Our judge was pretty permissive, anyhow.

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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
-Desiderata