In my younger days, I would watch Star Trek. One episode I recall involved a trial where a captain of a Federation Vessel was accused of wrongdoing. The Federation tribunal was in one place; the defendant-accused was in another place; exhibits were retrieved remotely and introduced from the scene of the crime; witnesses were called to testify in far away places; and all was recorded electronically. It seemed to be as fantastic as Dick Tracy talking to everyone from his telephone watch.
Hung Jury
Last week, I tried a case where a client was accused of four crimes stemming from one auto accident. The charges included intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. The jury returned verdicts relatively quickly which acquitted our client of manslaughter and aggravated assault, but which convicted our client of intoxication assault and intoxication assault. The first phase of the trial is…