How Trump trial lawyers play to the jury

+ TikTok ban doesn't solve media literacy problem US Edition - Today's top story: Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump's hush money case know well [View in browser]( US Edition | 25 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The Conversation is a news organization – but we don’t have reporters on staff. Instead, scholars are our reporters. They write stories about issues and events in the news from their perspective as experts. In a regular newsroom, an editor would decide what story needed to be covered and would assign a reporter to do the story. The Conversation’s editors also decide what stories should be covered, but then we get to pick our writers from among the country’s most qualified authorities on the subject. There are a gazillion reporters covering Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York. At The New York Times alone, you’ll find several reporters live-blogging the trial’s most minute details, including when Trump’s eyes have closed and what expressions can be seen on jury members’ faces. This week’s trial coverage began at The Conversation with a story by Harvard Law School professor Ronald Sullivan, an expert on criminal law and trial advocacy. Sullivan focused on what he calls “[the most important single event of a trial](” – the opening statements by attorneys for the prosecution and defense. “Academic psychologists tell us that between 65% and 75% of jurors make up their minds about a case after the opening statement,” writes Sullivan. “What’s even more incredible is that 85% of those jurors maintain the position they formed after the opening statement once all evidence is received and the trial is closed.” That is indeed incredible. And learning about facts like this is why I love working with the scholar-reporters at The Conversation. Also in this week’s political news: - [Arizona life in 1864 when abortion ban was in force]( - [How Trump is trying to use hush-money trial to his advantage]( - [How funding Ukraine benefits US]( Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Former U.S. President Donald Trump enters Manhattan Criminal Court on April 22, 2024. Victor J. Blue - Pool/Getty Images [Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump’s hush money case know well]( Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Harvard University What I teach Harvard Law School students about the importance of opening arguments and how a majority of jurors make up their minds about a case after hearing them. Demonstrators protest outside the Supreme Court building shortly before the court heard arguments about mifepristone on March 26, 2024. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images [Can states prevent doctors from giving emergency abortions, even if federal law requires them to do so? The Supreme Court will decide]( Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia; Sonia Suter, George Washington University EMTALA requires hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to all patients – but Idaho is arguing that its abortion ban means it doesn’t have to allow the procedure, even if it is medically needed. The Seattle skyline with Mt. Rainier in the background. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images [What cities can learn from Seattle’s racial and social justice law]( Serin Houston, Mount Holyoke College; Dan Trudeau, Macalester College Ending institutional racism is a long-term goal and requires well-informed and engaged people to remake systems and structures [TikTok fears point to larger problem: Poor media literacy in the social media age]( Nir Eisikovits, UMass Boston If the US wants to protect young people from misinformation and foreign influence, focusing on TikTok is barking up the wrong tree. [Supreme Court appears open to Starbucks’ claims in labor-organizing case]( Michael Z. Green, Texas A&M University The case stems from a complaint filed after seven baristas who were attempting to organize a union at a Starbucks shop in Memphis, Tenn., were fired. [When the Supreme Court said it’s important to move quickly in key presidential cases like Trump’s immunity claim]( Donald Nieman, Binghamton University, State University of New York In 1974, the Supreme Court accepted, heard and decided a case within two months because the justices understood its importance to the public. [Death of Marine commander scarred by 1983 Beirut bombing serves as reminder of risks US troops stationed in Middle East still face]( Mireille Rebeiz, Dickinson College More than 240 US personnel died in truck bombing – remembered as the worst day in his career by Gen. Alfred M. Gray Jr., who died on March 20, 2024. - [EU migration overhaul stresses fast-track deportations and limited appeal rights for asylum seekers]( Nicholas R. Micinski, University of Maine The proposed EU asylum and migration reforms focus on securing borders and making it easier to deport people, with little protection for migrants and asylum seekers. - [South Korean President Yoon faces foreign policy challenges after the National Assembly election]( Jong Eun Lee, North Greenville University The South Korean leader seeks to strengthen ties with the US and Japan. But he might be hamstrung by domestic concerns. - [Senate approves nearly $61B of Ukraine foreign aid − here’s why it helps the US to keep funding Ukraine]( Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida President Joe Biden is expected to soon sign the total $95 billion foreign aid package that covers Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. - [How Trump is using courtroom machinations to his political advantage]( Tim Bakken, United States Military Academy West Point; Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University The number of prospective jurors saying they can’t be fair to Trump because of who he is does not bode well for the defendant, a legal expert observes, - [Arizona’s 1864 abortion law was made in a women’s rights desert – here’s what life was like then]( Calvin Schermerhorn, Arizona State University Abortions happened in Arizona, despite a near-complete abortion ban enacted in 1864. But people also faced penalties for them, including a female doctor who went to prison. - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Giving Today]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](