NCJ Number
164796
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 20 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 533-554
Date Published
1996
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of the defense attorney's presentation style and gender as well as juror gender on jurors' verdicts and evaluation of the attorney and witness.
Abstract
A total of 135 undergraduate college students read a brief summary of an assault-and-robbery case and viewed a videotape of either a passive or aggressive male or female attorney interrogating a witness. They then rendered a verdict and rated the witness and attorney on characteristics such as competency, credibility, and assertiveness. Generally, the data support the study's hypotheses. Aggressive attorneys were more successful than passive attorneys, and the effect of presentation style was moderated by both attorney and juror gender. In particular, male (but not female) participants were more influenced when a female, or especially a male, attorney was aggressive than when that attorney was passive. Attorney presentation style and the interaction between presentation style and participant gender had the strongest effect overall. Both attorney gender and presentation style had some corresponding effects on participants' perceptions of the attorneys, although not on their overall ratings of competence. Results of this study are consistent with previous research that has shown an aggressive attorney style to be an advantage in the courtroom. 7 tables and 44 references