Kind of ironic Question for RC and the other attorneys...

[BusDrivinBilly]

Another thing thats messed up about juries is their predispositions when they come into court. If its a celebrity on trial people will sometimes feel like they vicariously know them since they watched their sitcom 5 years ago and thought they were funny, and will be predisposed to want to believe that they are innocent, because to do so would only re-validate their personal feelings towards them.

Of course, if you're Joe Blow from Nowhere USA then they don't give a shit about you when you walk into court.

Sorry, not quite on topic, but I hate when juries put down the remote long enough to stop watching Springer; leave their mobile home and run down to the courthouse to pass judgment on potential life changing charges.

 

[Rick Collins]

Being a trial lawyer can be tremendous pressure. Someone has entrusted their future to you; the stakes can be very high. But as grandma said, if ya can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen!

Finding someone guilty beyond any reasonable doubt is much, much more difficult than the mere 51% it takes to establish probable cause.

Yes, you're absolutely right, beyond a reasonable doubt is a higher standard than other legal proof standards, including the 51% necessary for "preponderance of the evidence." Actually, the standard of probable cause is even LOWER than that of preponderance, although courts assiduously avoid ascribing any specific percentage to it.