Acquittal: An Insider Reveals the Stories and Strategies Behind Today's Most Infamous Verdicts

Trial consultant Gabriel illuminates the inner-workings of the justice system, discussing his involvement with some very famous cases and how the juries reached their decisions. Gabriel comprehensively explores juror bias; the negative impact of the 24 hour news cycle; and a trial consultant's objective to "speak the separate languages of the lawyer, the judge, and the jury." On the O.J Simpson case, which Gabriel calls "a bizarre and seductive carnival," he explains the defense's strategy of seeking jurors "more receptive to... themes of police error and misconduct" due to the many mistakes committed during the investigation. Gabriel discusses the roles he played working for the defense in the celebrity trials of Heidi Fleiss and Phil Spector, and the book culminates in the fever pitch of the Casey Anthony trial where the defense attempted to "harness the hysteria and use it to [their] advantage." He also calls jury selection for a death penalty case, "part poker, part chess, and part roulette." While these verdicts may have seemed shocking or even miscarriages of justice, Gabriel's account effectively shows that jurors, despite their personal biases, are fulfilling their responsibilities admirably. (June)