Showing posts with label keeping the jury's attention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping the jury's attention. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

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.