Courtroom Humor Has Risks But Also Benefits For Attys

Jeffrey Polsky was quoted in the Law360 article "Courtroom Humor has Risks but also Benefits for Attys." While the full text can be found in the January 6, 2014, issue of Law360, a synopsis is noted below.

Many trial attorneys acknowledge that joking in the courtroom can be a risky move, but some argue that being funny at the right moment can help attorneys connect with jurors and the judge.

When a joke doesn't go over well however, the courtroom tends to magnify it, according to Jeffrey Polsky.

"There's a certain solemnity in judicial proceedings that makes people more constrained in their responses," Polsky said. "Even if a joke is funny, you're not there to entertain; you're there to make your client's case. If it doesn't advance the case, there is no point in telling it."