Houston defense lawyers use a variety of strategies to win jury trials
Some common strategies include:
- Jury Selection: One of the most important strategies is jury selection. Criminal lawyers try to select jurors who are impartial, fair-minded, and open to their arguments. They may use psychological profiling, questionnaires, or other techniques to help identify potential jurors who are likely to be sympathetic to their client’s case.
- Evidence Suppression: Criminal lawyers may challenge the admissibility of evidence that was obtained illegally or in violation of their client’s constitutional rights. If evidence is suppressed, it can weaken the prosecution’s case and increase the likelihood of a not guilty verdict.
- Cross-Examination: Criminal lawyers may use cross-examination to challenge the credibility of prosecution witnesses and to highlight inconsistencies in their testimony. They may also use cross-examination to elicit testimony that supports their client’s case.
- Expert Witnesses: Criminal lawyers may call on expert witnesses to testify on their client’s behalf. Expert witnesses can provide scientific or technical evidence that supports the defense’s case, and can help to explain complex issues to the jury.
- Defense Witnesses: Criminal lawyers may call on witnesses to testify on their client’s behalf. Defense witnesses can provide testimony that supports the defense’s case, and can help to create doubt in the minds of the jurors.
- Closing Arguments: Criminal lawyers use closing arguments to summarize the evidence, highlight weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and make a persuasive argument in favor of their client’s innocence. A powerful closing argument can sway the opinions of the jurors and increase the likelihood of a not guilty verdict.
- Jury Instructions: Criminal lawyers may seek specific jury instructions that favor their client’s case. Jury instructions provide guidance to the jurors on how to apply the law to the facts of the case and can significantly impact the outcome of the trial.
These are just a few of the strategies that criminal lawyers use to win jury trials. Every case is unique, and a skilled criminal defense lawyer will tailor their strategy to the specific circumstances of the case.
James G. Sullivan and Associates | Northwest Houston Criminal Attorney
Contact James G. Sullivan and Associates today at (281) 546-6428 for a free consultation about your criminal charges in Harris County.
James Sullivan is an experienced criminal trial attorney in Houston who will make every effort to help you achieve the best outcome for your case.
