Hamilton County Herald Features Judge Neil Thomas' Book
Former judge of twenty years, Neil Thomas offers a thoughtful presentation of the concepts of imagination (self-creativity), relating – the ability to tell a story or convey an important message, and listening as a very active process in his book, Imagination and the Art of the Jury Trial. After two decades of witnessing both the effective and the inexperienced in jury trials, Thomas constructs ways and offers ideas for attorneys to prepare and try a jury case professionally and in an organized, artistic way, applying principles and not just process.
Thomas now practices in The Law Firm of Thomas & Thomas in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
From The Hamilton County Herald, Full Story HERE.
As a retired trial judge with 20 years of experience on the civic bench and over 25 years of experience as a trial attorney, Neil Thomas has witnessed lawyers who are inexperienced in trying jury trials. This prompted him to write “Imagination and the Art of the Jury Trial.”
Published by Xlibris, the book challenges jury trial lawyers to approach the preparation and trial of a jury case from a different point of view.
“Working on this book has been fun because I’ve tried to stretch our imaginations by melding trial concepts with symphony concepts,” Thomas says. “This is not a book of magical secrets that tells you how to prepare for and try every jury trial. There is no such magic. But there is art in a jury trial.”
The book shows jury trial lawyers how to prepare and try a jury case professionally and in an organized, artistic way. It is not intended to deal with the mechanics but rather deals with creativity.
There are three concepts that are central to this concept. One is imagination – self-creativity. The second is relating – the ability to tell a story and relate it to a jury. Third is learning to overcome the biggest deficit of a lawyer – listening.
“Some judges might not be receptive to the innovation I am suggesting in this book,” he explains. “Before you try to use my theories, make sure your judge will let you. Also, some practitioners may resist what I espouse in this work.
“Both judges and practitioners are comfortable in knowing that the way we presently try cases is the safe way from the standpoint of appellate review. Let me urge the judicial system to at least consider what I am suggesting.”