Time out for Summation: The Use of Timed Breaks In Summation for Greater Juror Retention

The popularity of social media and new technologies has created a modern juror with a limited attention span. Sometimes lawyers are too eager to launch into their narratives; they forget to stop after key points in order to let each juror absorb the words. According to the authors, the use of short breaks during closing argument will help jurors retain more defense-oriented information. Support for this idea comes not only from scientific principles, but also from courtroom practices that highlight nuances in the criminal defense lawyer’s technique to grab hold of a juror’s mind.