Unlike a usual seminar where speakers talk to the audience, this seminar featured the presenters engaged in performances of a part of an actual criminal trial. For instance, Bobby Lee Cook, highly regarded as the best criminal defense attorney in modern Georgia history, did an actual closing argument. Cook is the lawyer who inspired the television show "Matlock." He has practiced law for 62 years and still has an acquittal rate in homicide cases of 90%. He once tried a case involving a young man who was accused of stealing a television.  The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. On the verdict form the jury wrote, "P.S. give the t.v. back." Cook received a standing ovation not only before his closing argument, but after his awe inspiring performance during which you could hear a pin drop. Cook's subsequent plea to lawyers to have courage and appreciate their role in the criminal justice system may have caused tears to drop from the lawyers in attendance. 

Dwight Thomas, who has represented notable clients such as rapper T.I., did a cross-examination of a cooperating witness from an actual federal drug case.  Thomas' work was so successful that the defendant in the actual case, now a free man, was sitting there playing the role of the defendant.

Brian Steel, who is regarded as one of the hardest working and most ferocious advocates, did a cross-examination of a therapist in a child molestation case. Steel's client in the actual case was so distraught that the client considered suicide the night before Steel's cross-examination. As Steel was impeaching the witness and several discrepancies were methodically demonstrated by Steel one after the other, everyone in the courtroom heard a juror during a moment of silence say busted. 
 

Steel's examination demonstrated the extent to which he will go to gain his client's freedom. He subpoenaed the records of the therapist; the courses that the therapist had attended; the records from other cases of the therapist; and the phone records and computer records of a witness, among other things. It was clear that the witness would have had no way to imagine that an attorney would have been so prepared in so many ways to show inconsistencies in the case. 

Angie Coggins cross-examined a police officer at a motion to suppress hearing. Systematically attacking the credibility of the officer's informant who was a crack cocaine addict and being paid by the police. Despite the hostility of  the officer, Coggins with her fiery style was able to establish glaring problems with the investigation.

Ed Garland, who has represented leaders of Georgia, Ray Lewis and Ben Rothlesberger among others, conducted a cross-examination of a computer expert. He was introduced by a former prosecutor on one of Garland's trials.  Introducing him the lawyer told the story of how during a trial Garland had the client demonstrating how he had accidently killed a man. During the demonstration the client began to cry, then Garland began to cry. Then two jurors started crying. The prosecutor heard weeping in the courtroom and looked around to see that his own mother who had come to support him was even crying. 

Garland cross-examined the computer expert. His methodical, southern gentlemanly approach belied the fact that he was preparing to cut the expert's testimony off at the knees. By the end of the examination Garland had become more confrontational.  By that time it was clear that Garland had established the expert's misplaced reliance on a computer program to create a timeline.  The expert apologized for her error on the stand.

Bruce Harvey, Georgia's most notable pony-tailed lawyer and a passionate advocate, who once represented an exotic dancer in a federal racketeering case and during closing argument did a strip dance on top of a table in federal court, conducted a cross-examination in a motion to suppress wiretap case.

Harvey's cross-examination of the agent was masterful. Harvey exemplifies what it means to fight for a client. He is confrontational in a way that makes it clear that he cares primarily and almost exclusively about his client's interest. He embodies independence and non-conformity. It seems he would be passionate about describing the weather.  His cross-examination was not simply confrontation but scholarly and systematic. In watching his performance it is impossible to believe he conducted that same examination on a prior occasion.    It seemed as if he was reacting to each situation, thinking "on his feet" a hallmark of any great trial lawyer.  The officer had no clue, until it was too late, that Harvey was not challenging the probable cause for the wiretap but rather the necessity for it. Harvey is no actor as was apparent from his breaking from the script several times and speaking to the audience.  However, it was also clear his knowledge of the law is as great as his passion.

Other top notch performances were turned in by Linda Sheffield (cross-examining an ineffective lawyer); Mike Hawkins (cross-examining a DUI officer) and Denise de La Rue (jury selection demonstration). 

Sometimes an art form can best be understood by seeing it rather than being told about it. This was the beauty of this seminar concept, the brainchild of Jason Sheffield with the help of his co-program directors Doug Peters and Bob Rubin.

GACDL members can obtain a copy of the DVD by contacting GACDL.