Listening to Larry Pozner speak about cross-examination is a rare, rare treat. TCDLA (through CDLP) and HCCLA brought him to Houston to share a day of incredible training regarding cross.
His book, Cross-Examination: Science and Techniques, written with Roger Dodd, has had an incredible impact on how I conduct cross. It will change how you try cases. The “chapter method” alone is worth the price of the book. The book is now in its third edition. I’m a lucky girl because I had the pleasure of having Larry sign my first edition. Carmen Roe referred to either me or my book as a “dinosaur.” I’m sure she meant the book, as it is a 1993 edition and even has a “pocket part” supplement (remember those in our Black’s Statutes?).
The bottom line is TCDLA provides us with so many opportunities to be better at what we do. It’s incredibly important to our clients that we ARE the best we can be. Lives of our clients and their families are forever changed by being thrust into the criminal justice system. We can be a part of making that a little less daunting, a little less painful, a little less flat out terrifying. And we do that by being the best prepared, most confidant attorney in the courtroom. A huge part of what we do in trial is cross-examination. I strongly recommend the above book to all of you—I even had and listened to CDs of Larry Pozner in my car (I’m not sure I have a CD player in my car anymore). Tip Hargrove lent me his Pozner CDs, so I know this method of cross is alive and well in West Texas!
Next month, I hope to share some info about the survey in which we asked you to participate regarding TCDLA. Some interesting info has been gleaned and will help us be all we can be for you, our membership.
This month, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Be sure you let people know you are thankful for them. Maybe a staff member, a court coordinator, a fair prosecutor (oxymoron?), a citizen accused who trusts you. I know I am thankful for ALL of you and hope to see you at the Sexual Assault seminar and board activities in Dallas the first weekend in December!
