Episode 458: Cross-Examination, Courtroom Storytelling, & the Art of Being Nice to Cops
About this episode
Kyla Lee and Matt Dodd discuss effective cross-examination techniques and the importance of interpersonal skills in courtroom advocacy.
This week on Driving Law, Kyla Lee is joined by Montana criminal defence lawyer Matt Dodd for a discussion about cross-examination, trial advocacy, and storytelling in court. Matt discusses his criminal defence and DUI practice in Montana, including his work on serious criminal cases and civil litigation. He and Kyla then explore what makes cross-examination effective, emphasizing the importance of preparation, knowing the goal for each witness, and using cross-examination to tell the client’s story. The conversation also looks at why lawyers do not always need to be aggressive to be effective. Matt explains why he often takes a friendly, conversational approach with police witnesses, and how that can help control the witness, lower defensiveness, and make the information more accessible to a jury. Kyla and Matt also discuss the importance of in-person advocacy, building rapport in courtrooms, and the value of getting real-world practice talking to people. They consider how younger lawyers may face a steeper learning curve with interpersonal courtroom skills after years of remote hearings and online learning. Plus, Matt shares information about Dodd Trial Skills clinics…
People in this episode
Host: Kyla Lee
Guest: Matt Dodd
Topics covered
- cross-examination
- trial advocacy
- storytelling in court
- interpersonal courtroom skills
- DUI practice
- lawyer-police interactions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dodd Trial Skills, Acumen Law, VancouverCriminalLaw.com
More episodes of Driving Law
- Driving Law Episode 461 – Bad Plea Deals, Flock Cameras & Privacy
- Driving Law Episode 460 – Electric Dirt Bikes, Tesla Autopilot & Sea to Sky Shutdown
- Episode 459: Saskatchewan's IRP Plan, Cannabis Presumptions, and the Future of Impaired Driving Law
- Driving Law Episode 457: The Raffia Appeal, Forensic Science Failures & Throwing Your Phone Out the Window
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