How Casey Anthony's Lawyers Got Her Acquitted of Murder

Casey Anthony & Lawyer Know-How

When you get a lawyer - make them work for you.

(This essay by Dr. Frederick Graves lays out why Casey Anthony's lawyers proved the case and won. 

How? They knew and followed the rules of the court! Regardless of whether you think her innocent or guilty, the point is that there are exact rules and her lawyers applied themselves into just doing what they needed to win. If you know the rules - then you can win. It's that simple. And why I recommend Dr. Graves' Jurisdictionary course. Read on...)

What did the lawyers need to know?
If you believe they needed to go to law school to learn how to do what they did, you're dead wrong!
Think!

• They called witnesses.
• They reviewed evidence.
• They made objections.
• They argued over jury instructions.

What else?
Think about it, please.
Just go over in your mind what you saw of the trial on TV. Or, if you haven't watched, go back over what you've seen on "Law & Order" or any other TV show or movie that depicts trials and court proceedings.
Was any of it all that complicated?
Did any of it require a law school education?
What did the lawyers REALLY NEED TO KNOW?
Let me tell you.
Think!
The lawyers needed to know only the following:

1. the fact elements of the crimes charged,
2. the available evidence that would establish (or oppose) those fact elements,
3. how to get evidence admitted to the record,
4. how to question witnesses on the stand,
5. how to object when the judge or other side went outside the rules, and
6. how to argue convincingly.

Six things any average 8th grader can master with just 24-hours with my official Jurisdictionary "How to Win in Court" step-by-step course!
Seriously!
#1 - We all know how to find fact elements of crimes charged. They're set out in statute books and spelled out in jury instructions. No law school education required!
#2 - Evidence is found by law enforcement or dragged out of witnesses ... willing or unwilling. It doesn't require much of lawyers other than to follow leads. It certainly does not require a 3-year law school education! It's all simple, step-by-step common-sense mixed with a bit of work digging for the facts! Nothing complicated at all!
#3 - Getting evidence admitted requires nothing more than a passing knowledge of a few evidence rules. (Only 13 pages in federal cases and not much more in the 50 states.) Nothing that requires 3 years in law school.
#4 - Questioning witnesses requires knowing only a few rules. None of these is complex or more than an average 8th grader can understand. Here are a few: (1) you may not lead your own witness, (2) you may not ask a witness what was said by someone who is not in court, (3) you may not ask a witness to guess what someone else was thinking, (4) you cannot ask a witness to guess at facts (unless the witness is an expert). These few rules can be learned by anyone in a matter of hours ... not 3 years at an expensive law school!
#5 - Learning how to object effectively requires nothing more than reading my tutorial on courtroom objections. There are only a few objections to learn. If you've been following the Casey Anthony trial, you heard the same ones repeated again and again - and none of them were too complicated for an average 8th grader to learn. The lawyers would have you believe it's all too complicated, so you can hire one and pay through the nose!
#6 - Finally, how to argue convincingly is something we are either born with or can learn by arguing with family members and friends about baseball or how to fry chicken. It isn't rocket science or differential calculus! It's just a process of building facts one upon another until your facts outweigh those of your opponent. Law schools don't teach this, anyway.
So? What did the lawyers need to know?
Nothing that isn't covered thoroughly and simply-put in my official 24-hour, step-by-step Jurisdictionary "How to Win in Court" course.
Think!
If you've been watching the trial, you saw the lawyers call witnesses and present evidence. You saw them make objections.
What else did they need to know?
Just what I've said in this newsletter - nothing more!

• Fact elements, and
• How to get those fact elements into evidence.

THAT'S ALL YOU NEED KNOW TO WIN YOUR CASE!
If yours is a civil case, you go after fact elements of causes of action pleaded by the plaintiff or elements of the affirmative defenses pleaded by the defendant. All explained fully in my course.
If yours is a criminal case, you go after facts to show there is "reasonable doubt" as to the reliability of facts presented by the prosecution. Similarly covered in my course.
Learning elements and how to get facts into evidence is a simple, straightforward process any average 8th grader can learn in just 24 hours with my official, affordable, 24-hour, Jurisdictionary "How to Win in Court" course that will lay it all out for you step-by-step.

- - - -

If you are looking to get a lawyer, or you want to make sure they work for you to win your case. Or you just want to find out what is going on before you commit yourself to any legal action - get this course today. At least go to the Jurisdictionary website and find out for yourself. Dr. Graves has tons of free and downloadable materials to show you the basics of how the system actually works. Check it out today!

How You can control Judges in your lawsuit

Simple – hold their feet to the fire. Judges don’t like to be overruled – and Dr. Graves lays out here exactly how you get the Judge to simply do the logical thing: apply precedent to the case, like the Judges who hear the appeal will. And even if the Judge is silly enough to rule against you in the face of that evidence, you have everything in writing (via court reporter) so that he will be overturned and your case is won. Study today’s lesson from Jurisdictionary.

Using Legal Research to Find the Controlling Law.

You cannot win without controlling judges.

This is absolute.

If you don't control the judge, the judge will do whatever the judge wishes to do, and there will be nothing you can do about it afterward!

You won't be able to appeal.

You won't be able to challenge the judgment.

You'll be dead in the water!

If you don't have a court reporter present at every hearing (and I do mean every hearing), the judge knows he or she can run roughshod over you, because without a transcript record of the proceedings, appeal is not likely to succeed. It's essentially impossible!

But, having a court reporter isn't enough. You must know how and when to object and give proper grounds for your objections ... proper legal grounds ... or your objections will be overruled ... and there won't be anything you can do about it!

Finally, you must be able to cite and quote controlling "legal authority" (appellate court decisions) for every point of law you seek to make on the court's record!

The judge is not the authority!

Get this clear in your mind and stop fearing the judge! Judges are employees of our tax-supported government, and they can be controlled once you learn a few basics.

Judges don't like to be reversed on appeal. They don't like it when the appellate court justices write an opinion telling the entire world the judge was wrong!

Therefore, you must make it crystal clear on the court's record that the judge will be reversed on appeal if he rules against you.

Otherwise, a judge is free to ignore everything you say and rule any way he pleases in spite of what the law and facts may prove to the contrary ... because he knows he will not be reversed on appeal.

The appeal process will not give you another bite at the proverbial apple. Either you make your points with the trial judge by citing "legal authority" that controls him, or you run the risk of losing your case and being stuck with the decision forever!

Don't believe me?

Go tell a judge what your personal opinions are about the law and how you think he should rule in your case, and see how far it gets you!

You will lose if you don't cite "legal authority"!

The only opinions that count in court are the written opinions of appellate court justices who stand in judgment of trial level judges and have power to reverse them if they disagree with appellate decisions in any way!

Your opinions (no matter how clever or persuasive) count for nothing in court.

You must clearly show the judge on the record by citing official legal authorities from appellate decisions, exactly what will happen if the judges rules against you!

This is how smart lawyers win in court.

Stupid lawyers are afraid of judges, afraid to threaten appeal, so they lose ... routinely!

Clever argument is not enough.

Knowing the law is not enough.

Controlling judges is what wins lawsuits!

You control judges by making clear on the record what higher level appellate courts have ruled in the past, what opinions those higher courts have passed down, and why the higher courts will reverse the trial judge's orders if he rules contrary to what the appellate courts require.

Watch video showing on-line research.

You must provide citations to official legal authority in motions, memoranda, objections, and verbal arguments at hearings and at trial (if you don't win before trial using the easy-to-learn methods we teach in my affordable step-by-step Jurisdictionary course).

You must tell the judge why you should win - by citing official legal authorities the judge is required to obey:

• court rules,
• constitutional provisions,
• statutes,
• codes, and
• most importantly the opinions of higher courts that clarify what those rules, constitutional provisions, statutes, and codes really mean!

What you think they mean doesn't count! Trust me!

How you choose to read and interpret those things doesn't count.

The only thing that counts is how the appellate courts read and interpret them, and what they say those things mean in regard to the facts of your case.

The other side will cite legal authorities for their case.

You must do the same ... if you want to win.

If you've wandered through a law library in search of legal authority, you were probably amazed to find crowded shelves stuffed with volumes of similar-looking books differing only by the mysterious numbers printed on their spines. Books that give no hint which one might hide the key to unlock the judge's favor in your case.

In a well-stocked law library there are thousands of books.

You cannot possibly read them all to find what you seek, and even the indexes, appendices, and annotations are a complex nightmare that requires years of experience to master.

On the other hand, on-line legal research is easy.

We show you how in our course.

Beware cheap on-line resources. They can't be trusted. Their databases are incomplete, inaccurate, and seldom up-to-date. When shopping for on-line legal research, insist on sites that keep their databases current and provide access to all official resources necessary to win your case.

Learn how to object and give legal grounds for your objections on the record!

Learn why you must have a court reporter present at each and every hearing to avoid courtroom corruption!

Learn how to use on-line legal research and how to cite case-winning legal authority in my affordable step-by-step 24-hour Jurisdictionary self-help course!

Know how to control the judge - or you will lose!

Lawsuit Complaints – only 6 types

Did you know this? I didn’t. But the rules which govern lawyers are actually simple. Dr. Graves lays it all out in his course. But in this article, he gives you the link to see the actual flow chart of how these complaints work. If you know the rules and use them, you can’t be as easily affected by unscrupulous lawyers and biased judges.

Know the 6 types of lawsuit complaints.

Every lawsuit begins with a complaint filed by one or more plaintiffs.

Click on the small image to access full-size PDF chart!

See how easily this is explained?

Making lawsuits "ridiculously easy-to-understand" is why Jurisdictionary is popular with litigants in every state of the U.S. and in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, India, and Puerto Rico ... people with and people without a lawyer!

If you have a lawyer, my course will save you thousands in legal fees, because you'll know what your lawyer should be doing to earn his or her fees!

If you don't have a lawyer, my course will show you the proper method to win your case ... step-by-step!

This diagram in printable form is included in my official, affordable, step-by-step, 24-hour Jurisdictionary course that includes many other diagrams, charts, sample forms, and simplified explanations that demonstrate how to use the rules of court with practical tactics that give you the power to win ... with or without a lawyer!

If you don't already have my course, order now.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this diagram could be worth thousands of dollars to YOU if you learn what it teaches and apply it in your court case!

1. The plaintiff in this simple chart sues Defendant A and Defendant B.

2. Defendant B counter-claims against Plaintiff.

3. Defendant A cross-claims against Defendant B.

4. Defendant B counter-cross-claims against Defendant A.

5. Defendant A also files a third-party complaint against Third Party Defendant.

6. Third-Party Defendant counter-claims against Defendant A.

There are variations on each of these that you'll learn about in my simplified step-by-step course, but each of the variations is really just a type of one of these shown in the diagram.

See how simple lawsuits really are?

In some cases the complaint is called a "petition" and the person filing it is called the "petitioner", but the types are the same. Most cases involve plaintiffs and defendants, but in actions that sound principally in "equity" (explained in my course) the plaintiff is called a petitioner, and the responding party is called a respondent. Otherwise, case structure is the same.

Knowledge overcomes fear.

Knowledge brings confidence.

Confidence yields courage and determination.

Couple these together the way I teach in my course, and you have the winning formula for success in court!

If you must fear something, fear not knowing how to use the rules of court to win!

The rules are on YOUR side. Once you learn what I teach about using them tactically and strategically to control courtroom corruption, the rules give power to overcome your opponent and corrupt judges.

Cursing the darkness does no good at all.

There will be darkness.

There will be corruption.

There will be dirty tricks and crooked maneuvers by the other side.

There will be judges who are biased against you.

BUT!

The knowledge you need is mostly common sense.

It is nothing like differential calculus or quantum theory.

It's all straight-forward, step-by-step procedure that is regulated by rules any average 8th grader can learn.

REMEMBER: The hardest part of winning in court is having a clear idea what's happening and why!

New Legal Procedure Flow Chart – Lawsuit Self Help

It hardly gets better than this. Dr. Graves has now revised his legal procedure flow chart (no one else has even written this all out) and now it’s simpler than ever to understand what you go through in your own lawsuit. Now you can work your own case in the courts – or make sure that over-priced lawyer you have does the job you pay him for. And it’s a free download! Great stuff. All part of the Jurisdictionary course.

Here's the NEW Basic Lawsuit Flowchart we send to everyone who signs up for our hot Tips & Tactics newsletters.

Click on the small image at right to download the FREE full-size PDF version you can print out, study in detail, and share with your friends!

The more in-depth COMPLETE Lawsuit Flowchart with detailed explanations of each step in the litigation process is included as part of my official, affordable, powerful, and easy-to-learn, step-by-step, 24-hour Jurisdictionary course.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This picture could be worth thousands of dollars to YOU if you learn what it teaches and apply it in your court case!

Tell your friends to sign up for Tips & Tactics, and they will receive access to the new Lawsuit Flowchart, too!

REMEMBER: The hardest part of winning in court is having a clear idea what's happening and why!

Learn how the Justice System works ... step-by-step!

Know how each simple step in the process fits together and how increasing your knowledge of the details of each simple step in the process will bring you closer to the victory and justice you deserve!

Everyone knows there are only 9 innings in a baseball game (unless the teams are tied at the bottom of the 9th). Everyone knows the visiting team gets to be first to bat. Everyone knows a batter has to go back to the dugout after 3 strikes. It's simple. It's baseball. It's America!

But, how many of you or your friends know how simple a lawsuit is?

How many parts does a lawsuit have?

How do the separate parts fit together?

Not many people know how simple lawsuits really are!

Because you were never taught - and my profession has kept this valuable knowledge from you on purpose - most of you are at the mercy of lawyers!

It shouldn't be that way here in America!

So, I created my step-by-step Jurisdictionary course.

Now everyone can know how to win in court!

Learn how to state your position clearly in writing using properly-drafted pleadings, motions, and memoranda.

Learn why, how, and when to object in court properly with solid grounds for objections the court cannot ignore.

Learn how to examine your own witnesses, using direct examination when you cannot use leading questions.

Learn how to cross-examine your opponent's witnesses in a way that gets answers you need, instead of alienating witnesses with leading questions that pry unnecessarily.

Gain judges' RESPECT by demonstrating you know how to follow the official rules and won't be wasting valuable court time or trying judges' patience with a bizarre legal theory you learned about in an email!

Only the rules rule.

Nothing else works!

Knowing the rules of litigation (the rules of evidence and the rules of procedure) and how to use them properly is how you win favor with judges!

Winning favor with judges is a good thing!

Flattery will get you nowhere.

Using complex legal language you barely understand will get you nowhere.

Trying to trick the other side will get you nowhere.

Knowing how to use the rules will get you victory!

How to Get in the Judge’s Favor

This simple approach will earn you the judge’s respect – and save time in your lawsuit. Dr. Graves points out here that when you know the rules and ensure everyone follows them, the judge’s job is made simpler and more efficient. Of course, when you know the rules and use them, your case is much easier to win. And that’s the point, isn’t it? Why be effect of unscrupulous, money-grabbing lawyers? Get Jurisdictionary course today!

Face it.

Whether it's right or wrong, having a judge rule against you just because he or she doesn't "like" you, isn't good!

It helps to have the judge "on your side".

It helps a lot!

But!

There's really only ONE WAY to get a judge's favor.

Currying favor with flattery doesn't work. Judges get the sweet treatment every day. If anything, trying to butter up a judge with flowery words may work against you. The saying, "Flattery will get you everywhere," doesn't work in court. Very few judges are utter fools. They see through attempts to fan their ego. They see it as dishonesty.

Obviously, challenging a judge's "oath of office" (as some claim can get a case dismissed) is not going to win points with an experienced presiding judge. It might get you out of a tight spot in traffic court, where the judge or hearing officer is new to the bench, but it won't cut any ice when the case is in a regular trial court - state or federal.

Nor will arguing over flag etiquette, as many believe and insist is a valid basis for challenging a court's jurisdiction. Flags do not create nor remove jurisdictional power from a sitting judge. A judge's power is conferred by provisions of the law that have nothing whatever to do with whether or not the flag in the courtroom has a fringe or not.

So, what works?

The best way to win favor with a judge is to know what you're doing and do it well!

Put yourself in a judge's seat for just a moment.

Imagine you've been on the bench for 14 years. You've seen it all. You have a full schedule today. Already this morning you sat through a bitter divorce where neither of the parents wanted the children. After that you listened to business partners arguing over a contract dispute they could have avoided by just talking to each other, instead of bringing their grievance to court. One after another. On and on for 14 years. One side always claiming injury. The other always arguing they aren't responsible. Real people with real problems you must listen to day after day. Only one side is right. The other is lying. And, you must sort it all out and reach a decision that is fair and just in the eyes of God.

Then, just after lunch when you wish to take a nap, in comes a pro se litigant who has no idea what the rules are or how to use them!

You try to listen patiently as they rant on about how a bank that's suing them didn't "loan any money". Or, they insist they are not who they are because their NAME IS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ON THE COURT PAPERS or that they "copyrighted" their own name so no one else can use it.

You know the next case coming up involves a young boy whose mother has abandoned him or a little girl with ugly burn scars on her once-pretty face, caused when a faulty pressure-cooker exploded on the kitchen stove.

And here is this pro se party ranting on about the U.S. Constitution and due process that the party doesn't even remotely understand.

Want to find favor with judges?

Easy!

Learn how the Justice System works!

Earn the judge's respect!

Learn how to work within the system, instead of trying to make end-runs around the rules with silly games that the judges are quite familiar with already.

Learn how to state your position clearly in writing using properly-drafted pleadings, motions, and memoranda.

Learn why, how, and when to object in court properly with solid grounds for objections the court cannot ignore.

Learn how to examine your own witnesses, using direct examination when you cannot use leading questions.

Learn how to cross-examine your opponent's witnesses in a way that gets answers you need, instead of alienating witnesses with leading questions that pry unnecessarily.

Get the judge's RESPECT by demonstrating that you have made an effort to learn how the game is played, instead of wasting everyone's time and patience!

That's how you win favor with judges!

Deposition Power and Your Winning Case

Dr. Graves tells you here how and why to use your deposition as part of getting the data to have your case succeed. As well, how to avoid unscrupulous tactics by shifty lawyers who want to turn fact-gathering into an informal “gotcha” legal move. Know your rights and preserve them by knowing the rules. You can win your case if you seek the truth and know what rules your case is being tried under.

Know When, Why, and How ...

Explained much more fully in my official Jurisdictionary course, you can slay your opponent with depositions!

But!

Depositions, like other tools in your "Lawyer's Little Red Toolbox", are best used

1. At the right time,
2. For the right reason,
3. In the right way!

These people are having too good a time!

A deposition is not a friendly coffee-klatch! It is not a "social event".

But!

Beware of sneaky lawyers, who will try to turn a serious fact-getting process into a "conversation". Do not allow it. When you see it coming, stop it immediately! Depositions are designed to get at "relevant facts", but "good lawyers" will try to lull witnesses (called deponents at a deposition) into a false sense of security. They do this to win, not to be "friendly". They do it to trick the witness into "chatting", instead of answering distinct, relevant questions.

Next comes the fishing expedition. "I understand you're quite a golfer, Mr. Deponent." Beware! The lawyer will set things up to go beyond the scope of deposition discovery. The next thing you know, the witness will be bragging on the exorbitant country club dues he's been paying. Or, he may tell about his success on the links in Las Vegas last summer. Don't be duped. The lawyer doesn't care a thing about the deponent's golfing. He's on a fishing expedition. He's after something else.

Here's the rule that constrains depositions to the facts (explained more fully in my official Jurisdictionary course):

The scope of discovery (requests for admissions, requests for production, interrogatories, depositions, and subpoenas) is limited by the rules to finding facts that are "reasonably calculated to lead to discovery of admissible evidence"!

A golfer's handicap has nothing to do with his mortgage or child support or where he was last summer!

Say, "Objection! Goes beyond the scope of discovery!"

If the other side continues to abuse the rule, you have the right to terminate the deposition and file a motion with the court for an order directing the lawyer to keep within the rule.

On one occasion in my 25 year career as a case-winning attorney, the lawyer on the other side was so devious and his client (an insurance company executive) so evasive, that I obtained an order from the court appointing a special master to oversee the deposition and rule on my objections then-and-there. I got my evidence out of that executive, and the insurance company settled the day before trial!

In another case the opposing lawyer was so ridiculous, I was required to move the court for an order to hold the deposition in front of the judge in the courtroom! That was the end of the tricks and games.

There's much more you need to know to successfully use depositions in your case, but I'll leave that to the course.

You need to know:

1. When (knowing what facts to get beforehand),
2. Why (knowing what critical facts you need), and
3. How (knowing much more about technique).

When I first started learning 25 years ago what I make easy for you to learn with my affordable Jurisdictionary self-help course, the business of law was often confusing and overwhelming. Getting my feet wet as a fledgling lawyer, I often had to go up against lawyers who had as much experience as I have now, and they didn't cut me any slack. The advantage I had over younger lawyers (I didn't start my practice until age 42) was down-home common sense and life experience. All those years at a snooker table in my early life paid off, so I learned quickly how to get around the traps and tricks of my opponents. In the past quarter-century I learned what it takes to win!

It's not all about the law, you see!

It's all about knowing how to use the rules!

The substantive law that applies to any particular case is always easy to find, identify, and cite in a way that will control the judge.

The procedural law, on the other hand (evidence rules and rules of procedure) are like a recipe ... for success or failure!

Win the Game of Law!

Again, we hear from Dr. Graves as he lays out the simplicities of the legal system. I didn’t know that there were only 80 pages of material which governed all legal procedures in the U.S.! This and more material is in his Jurisdictionary course. But it’s up to you to learn the rules in order to win…

First, know this: There are two (2) kinds of law!

If you want to win, you must learn a secret I will share with you in this Jurisdictionary Tips & Tactics!

There are two (2) kinds of law.

Please read on!

Too many of you good folks are losing (or fighting a losing battle you cannot possibly win) because you are persuaded "the law is on your side".

Maybe it is!

But!

Even if "the law is clearly on your side", you will lose if you don't know both kinds of law!

Sadly, most losers never know why they lost, so they blame the judge, blame the system, blame the party on the other side ... never knowing they could have won if only they knew how to work with both kinds of law!

You may know the law of foreclosure, for example. You may have given the bank or mortgage company all those notices without receiving the replies required by law. Or, you may even have made all the payments! But, unless you know both kinds of law, you will lose!

Perhaps your fight is over taxes, breach of contract, lost wages, custody of children, or something else. You studied the law and know "the law is on your side".

So, you rush into court demanding the judge give you a favorable verdict ... and still you lose!

Because, there are two (2) kinds of law!

Both apply to your case.

Just having "the law on your side" is never enough!

You must know both kinds of law to win!

The first kind is what we lawyers call "substantive law". This is the law too many of you foolishly rush into court with a chip on your shoulder, demanding that the judge enforce the law in your favor.

This is a reasonable assumption, really. But it's wrong!

Knowing a bank securitized its promissory notes or that the bank no longer has proof of your debt, for example, is definitely "law on your side".

But, do you know how to prove these things?

Do you know how to proceed?

Do you know how to get evidence?

Knowing these things is EASY, but too many of you assume because "the law is on your side" that having the law on your side is enough. It isn't!

You must know what we lawyers call "procedural law" and, more importantly, how to use procedural law!

Procedural law is simply the Rules of Procedure and the Rules of Evidence.

Knowing how to use these is essential to winning!

Consider the game of chess.

Imagine three chess players:

• Player #1 doesn't yet know the rules of chess
• Player #2 has memorized the rules but doesn't know how to use them tactically or strategically
• Player #3 has been playing chess for 25 years so he not only knows how the pieces move but how to move them to checkmate his opponents

Which kind of player are you?

The official Federal Rules of Evidence published in book form are fewer than 20 pages!

The official Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are fewer than 60 pages!

All states essentially follow the federal rules.

Those 80 pages contain all procedural law.

Not too much to learn ... if you can't afford a lawyer or aren't sure you can trust the lawyer you have!

Are you like Player #1 who doesn't even know the rules of the game and therefore cannot hope to win?

Are you like Player #2 who has studied all the rules but doesn't know how to use them tactically or strategically?

Would you like to know what Player #3 knows with his 25 years of case-winning experience?

The choice is yours, of course.

If you don't know what's in those 80 pages (you can get all the rules for free on the internet), then you'd better get to work and study those rules!

But! If you want to be like Player #3 and know how to apply the rules to get your evidence in the record, properly draft your paperwork, make effective courtroom objections to preserve your right to appeal if you lose, and do all the other things experienced courtroom players know how to do, nothing makes it easier than Jurisdictionary.