Who Has The Longer Attention Span? Your Juror or A Goldfish?

Recent research reported by the Associated Press:

The average attention span of a human being in 2000: 12 seconds

The average attention span of a human being in 2012: 8 seconds

The average attention span of a goldfish: 9 seconds

Do I have your attention now?!

This is the unfortunate reality you are up against in the courtroom. A goldfish has a longer attention span than today’s average juror . . .

Our attention span has shortened as our world has become more complex, more demanding, and more bite-sized. This is not a put-down of jurors or anyone else. It is simply a reality that is best dealt with, not avoided.

Short sentences, introducing a single idea in a single sentence, pausing between short paragraphs--all these are techniques that will serve you well in assuring you retain juror attention.

Beyond that, use visuals. When well-designed and executed, visuals can encapsulate lengthy explanations which the jurors can grasp in those critical 8 seconds, whereas the verbal explanation--albeit still necessary--may take hours to thoroughly present.