Entertaining the Jury

Lawyers' new credo: Keep it entertaining.  "To rouse a sleepy juror, Center City lawyer Jim Griffith once nearly fell into the jury box to humorously convey a wordless message: "Pay attention. This is important." Tom Kline, another lawyer in town, relies on high-tech imagery to keep jurors alert and intent. He uses PowerPoint, animation and a special gizmo called a Smart Board to present evidence. And he likes to show TV documentaries to paint compelling portraits of his clients. While lawyers have been trying for millennia to put on a good show, modern technology and the era of the high-profile trial have raised jurors' expectations higher than ever. . . "