NCJ Number
137267
Date Published
1992
Length
215 pages
Annotation
This manual was written to assist trial judges and court administrators in managing notorious cases that receive widespread publicity. It explains and presents techniques for coping with the types of issues that can be expected to arise in the course of a high-profile trial.
Abstract
Individual chapters focus on pretrial matters, the media, jury considerations, and security planning. Appendixes contain material on the legal issues that arise in notorious cases, guidelines regarding change of venue, issues related to public seating, and rules on the electronic coverage of trials. Judge Gerhard Gesell's discussion of the methods he used to deal successfully with the media during the Oliver North trial and the prospective juror questionnaire and court's instructions used for screening jurors in the Marion Barry trial are included. Also included are examples of actual media advisories, security orders, and a trial security plan recently used in a high-risk trial. Footnotes, charts, checklists, illustrations, and sample materials (Publisher summary modified)