PopCourt
We adore you, movie courtroom drama!
“I want the TRUTH!”
“You can’t handle the truth!”
Dramatic courtroom scenes in books and movies are plentiful. Courtrooms, after all, are ready and willing settings for a wide array of human drama.
And because these scenes are so technically accurate and true-to-life, anyone wanting to know how to conduct themselves in court can learn by grabbing a bowl of popcorn and watching one or two of these movies. That’s a great way to learn timeless trial techniques including:
- Asking the judge for a do-over.
- Jumping up and yelling, “Objection!” whenever a witness says something you don’t like. Then the judge will telepathically perceive your reasoning, and might sustain your objection and stop the witness from saying things that hurt your case.
- Raising your voice and pounding your fists even though the judge just sustained your opponent’s objection and is ordering you to be quiet. Because, obviously, the judge doesn’t get it! And justice overrules the judge!
All kidding aside, there are some good lessons about litigation to be learned from books and movies, even when those lessons teach us what not to do.
In this category of articles, we discuss litigation and court processes as described and depicted in books and movies, and give you solid take-away lessons you can use to dazzle the court and amaze your friends.
Is there a book or movie you’d like to see reviewed here? Please let us know using the “Contact LawYou” form below. Thank you!
Dark Waters
Dark Waters tells the true story of Attorney Rob Bilott’s legal battle against DuPont that revealed the existence of “forever chemicals”
Just Mercy
The true story of how civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson freed the innocent Walter McMillian from death row.
Runaway Jury
Instead of teaching us something about litigation, this movie teaches us something about the business of litigation.
Anatomy of a Fall
If a trial is not about the truth, does it even matter what it is about?
The Trial by Franz Kafka
The dream-like, surrealistic tone could echo your own experience of representing yourself in court: What’s happening? How do I figure out what I need to do? When will my life be normal again?
Justice has a Name: Marshall
This biopic adds to the cultural library of information about Thurgood Marshall’s legal career.
