California Trial Handbook

The Practical Trial Handbook is a concise and practical treatise on the rules of evidence, trial procedures, and basic trial skills and strategies that every attorney must know in order to competently and effectively try any type of case in any jurisdiction. Referencing the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) and trial procedure, the handbook explains the fundamentals of a court or jury trial, from the motion in limine to the final argument and everything in between. Topics of discussion include pre-trial procedures, jury selection, witness testimony, opening statements, direct and cross-examination, witness impeachment and rehabilitation, foundational requirements for the admissibility of evidence, hearsay and other exclusionary rules, expert witnesses, trial objections, character evidence, and closing argument. Written by a retired trial court judge with 36 years of experience in the courtroom, the handbook also includes more than 150 "Trial Tips," practical real-world advice by the author on trying a case that cannot be learned in the classroom nor found in other trial treatises. They provide not only basic "how to" advice, but also give suggestions on trial tactics or strategies the author has found to be effective. These informal and wide-ranging "Trial Tips" are found throughout the handbook for nearly every stage of a trial and are what sets this handbook apart from the other trial guides. Regardless of the type of case or the jurisdiction, the same basic rules of evidence and trial procedure apply. Furthermore, in every trial an attorney must possess the requisite basic trial skills and knowledge to try the case, e.g., the ability to question witnesses, introduce evidence, or argue the merits. This handbook is designed to distill these fundamentals into one, concise, and easy to follow format. It is designed not only as a learning resource for law students and less experienced trial lawyers, but also as a refresher for the veterans. It is a handbook every attorney should have in his or her library for reference when preparing for the next trial or evidentiary hearing. This edition focuses on the Federal Rule of Evidence and basic trial procedure, making it applicable not only to Federal Court, but also to state court jurisdictions that follow the Federal Rules. There is also a companion edition, Practical Trial Handbook California, which references only the California Rules of Evidence and basic trial procedure. The Practical Trial Handbook California is also available on-line at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098JVZRSX?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Practical Trial Website For more information on both handbooks, including introductory comments by the author, chapter summaries, and sample "Trial Tips," visit the handbook website at: https://www.practicaltrialhandbook.com/

The Criminal Trial Handbook is a concise and practical treatise that sets forth the nuts and bolts of what every lawyer needs to know to competently and effectively try a criminal case. Designed for use by both prosecutors and defense attorneys, experienced and inexperienced, the handbook is compiled and written by a California Superior Court judge with nearly 30 years of courtroom experience. It follows the natural progression of a jury trial from the first day counsel arrive at the courtroom through the closing argument. At each stage of a trial, the applicable rules of courtroom procedure and evidence are explained. It covers common evidentiary trial issues, such as hearsay and character evidence, and includes the verbatim text for some of the most commonly used California Evidence Code sections and selected case law authorities. Topics covered include: * Pre-Trial Motions* Discovery* Jury Selection* Opening Statements and Closing Arguments* Direct Examination* Cross-Examination* Expert Witnesses* Hearsay * Character Evidence* Writings* Foundational Requirements for Evidence* Objections* DeliberationsIn addition, the handbook describes basic trial tactics, such as how to effectively cross-examine a witness, how to present evidence in the courtroom, and how to make persuasive opening statements or closing arguments. It also contains "Trial Tips," practical suggestions for the courtroom not ordinarily found in other legal treatises or law books. Although primarily geared towards criminal law, many of the trial procedures and tactics discussed are equally applicable in civil trials. The handbook is also a great resource for law students or anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of a criminal jury trial.

Trial Fundamentals is a concise and practical handbook setting forth the nuts and bolts of trying a (non-criminal) case before a jury or the court. It covers not only basic trial procedure and the rules of evidence commonly used in the courtroom, but also explains basic strategies and trial skills necessary to try a case, such as tips on how to select a jury, how to effectively cross-examine and impeach a witness, and strategies for making a persuasive closing argument. Using California's rules of evidence and procedure for reference, the handbook follows the natural progression of a trial from the motions in limine through jury deliberation, and everything in between. Written by a Superior Court judge in California with more than 30 years of courtroom experience, the handbook includes explanation and commentary on the following areas: * In limine motions* Jury selection* Opening statements* Direct examination* Cross-examination* Witness impeachment* Witness rehabilitation* Expert witnesses* Hearsay* Character evidence* Courtroom evidence* Trial objections* Closing argument* Deliberations In addition, the handbook contains numerous "trial tips," practical real-world suggestions by the author concerning courtroom presentation and trial etiquette, not found in other more formal trial treatises. Because a substantial portion of the handbook is devoted to basic trial skills and strategies, and because California's rules of evidence mirror, or are very similar to, many other jurisdictions, the handbook is also useful to practitioners outside California. The handbook is meant to set forth the basic fundamentals of a trial, both procedural and practical, in a concise, and easy-to-follow format. It is an excellent refresher for experienced trial counsel and a good learning resource for the less-experienced and law students learning the trade. For the fundamentals of a criminal trial see Criminal Trial Handbook, also published by the author.