If you've been arrested for a crime you didn't commit, you need to defend your legal rights. You have the right to an attorney who can help you present your case. After being wrongly accused of something myself, I learned quickly how to navigate the legal avenues to have my case dismissed. My attorney was a great resource for building the case, and because of my understanding of the law, it worked. I created this site to share what I learned along the way and some other great tips for others who have been wrongly accused and arrested for a crime.
Judges and juries are supposed to make their decisions based on the evidence presented at trial and the laws that apply to the case, and most of them try to do exactly that. However, judges and jurors are also human, and they're prone to the same sort of biases, preconceived notions, and influencing factors that affect anyone else. That means that whether they realize it or not, there are things completely unrelated to the evidence that may affect their decisions. Take a look at a few odd things that can help you in court.
The Time Of Day
In a study of judges hearing parole cases, researchers found that judges were more likely to grant parole first thing in the morning and right after a meal break. They were much less likely to grant parole shortly before a break.
Experts suggest that this happened because as the day wore on and the judges grew tired, they were more likely to make the easier decision – leaving the defendants in jail. When the judges were more refreshed, such as first thing in the morning or right after a break, they were more likely to make the more difficult decision of granting releases. This may mean that scheduling a hearing or sentencing for first thing in the morning or right after lunch may be a way to get a favorable result.
Your Body Language
Are you a fidgeter, or a shy person who tends to look down instead of looking people in the eye? If so, you might want to practice sitting still and looking up before trial.
Your body language can speak volumes to a judge and jury. If you look over at the jury and don't meet their eyes, you may appear as if you have something to hide. Squirming in your seat can make you appear nervous, which may make you look like you're feeling guilty. Tapping your hands on the table or fiddling with a pencil can make you look bored – like you're not taking the process seriously. Your best bet is to sit still and straight. If you need something to do with your hands, take notes (or at least look like you're taking notes.) Look the judge, jury, and witnesses in the eyes – but don't stare them down, as that makes you look aggressive.
Your Glasses
Do you wear glasses? If not, you may want to get a pair – at least if you've been charged with a violent crime. A study of mock juries showed that defendants who wore glasses were considered by jurors to be more intelligent and less physically aggressive, and this translated into slightly fewer guilty verdicts.
On the other hand, if you've been accused of a white collar crime, you're better off leaving the glasses at home. Once again, studies showed that defendants in these cases were judged as more intelligent when they wore glasses, but in this case, that perception worked against them. Juries were more likely to convict a defendant accused of a white collar crime if that defendant wore glasses.
If the evidence is overwhelming, these little things may not make a difference, but in a close case, something as simple as a pair of glasses could tip the scales. Of course, the best thing that you can do for yourself in criminal court is bring a good lawyer with you.
Share10 June 2016
