Acquittal

May 12, 2014
Trial consultant Gabriel illuminates the inner-workings of the justice system, discussing his involvement with some very famous cases and how the juries reached their decisions. Gabriel comprehensively explores juror bias; the negative impact of the 24 hour news cycle; and a trial consultant's objective to "speak the separate languages of the lawyer, the judge, and the jury." On the O.J Simpson case, which Gabriel calls "a bizarre and seductive carnival," he explains the defense's strategy of seeking jurors "more receptive to... themes of police error and misconduct" due to the many mistakes committed during the investigation. Gabriel discusses the roles he played working for the defense in the celebrity trials of Heidi Fleiss and Phil Spector, and the book culminates in the fever pitch of the Casey Anthony trial where the defense attempted to "harness the hysteria and use it to advantage." He also calls jury selection for a death penalty case, "part poker, part chess, and part roulette." While these verdicts may have seemed shocking or even miscarriages of justice, Gabriel's account effectively shows that jurors, despite their personal biases, are fulfilling their responsibilities admirably.

Starred review from August 1, 2014

Prominent jury-selection consultant Gabriel (coauthor, Jury Selection Strategy & Science) has written a fascinating book that illuminates the arcane process of successful jury selection. Combining perspectives from law and psychology, the author is able to profile prospective jurors and advise attorneys when they are selecting jury panels for their trials. Drawing upon high-profile cases for which he has served as consultant, Gabriel reveals strategies he has used to predict jury behavior, so that acquittal is a possibility--even when "celebrity" defendants have already been tried in the "court of public opinion." He provides an insider's view of selection and trial strategy in infamous cases with defendants such as O.J. Simpson, Heidi Fleiss (the Hollywood Madam), Phil Spector, and Casey Anthony. In each instance, Gabriel tailored his profiles and recommendations to help create a jury most favorable to the defendant. VERDICT Remarkably, this book will intrigue professional and lay readers alike. Indeed, it should be required reading for trial advocacy classes in law school. Perfect for readers of James D. Zirin's The Mother Court: Tales of Cases That Mattered in America's Greatest Trial Court.--Lynne Maxwell, West Virginia Univ. Coll. of Law Lib., Morgantown

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