Criminal Trials and PowerPoint: The Importance of Juror Engagement

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One huge hurdle that litigators encounter during trials is not only meeting their burden of proof to prevail, but also keeping the jury engaged.  A jury trial, especially in more serious or complex matters is not the three minute clip that you see on television or in the movies. Trials can be long, often extending over months, depending on the matter at hand.  Throughout that time, we have a jury box of humans who are taking in all of this information and then tasked with deliberating to render a verdict.  I specifically point to the jurors as humans, because as humans we have shifting attention spans.  This is why it is extremely important to put on compelling and engaging presentations to the jury.  In the criminal context, it can be very powerful to display demonstrative evidence in a memorable manner.