Ten Great American Trials: Lessons in Advocacy

Ten Great American Trials provides chapter-length accounts of some of the most highly publicized―and fascinating―court cases of the twentieth century. Embedded in each of our narratives is an analysis of the use by prosecutors and defense attorneys of trial advocacy techniques (involving discovery, pre-trial motions, jury selection, direct testimony, cross-examination, the introduction of forensic exhibits, and summations) to craft compelling stories about what happened. We also assess the impact of cultural, social, and political values on the proceedings and the outcomes. We selected the cases, several of which have been dubbed "the crime of the century," because they are dramatic, suspenseful, emotional, intellectually powerful, and have become part of American culture.