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Acquittal: Secrets of a High-Profile Trial Consultant Paperback – June 2, 2015

by Richard Gabriel (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars 37 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (June 2, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425269728
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425269725
  • Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsPart textbook, part memoir, part apologia
By bellczar on September 14, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Acquittal by Richard Gabriel is part textbook, part memoir, and part apologia for the author's participation in some of the most controversial jury trials in recent American history. Gabriel is not a lawyer and his entry to the profession of jury consulting came after doing graduate study in communications. A red-diaper baby, Gabriel has heavily salted and peppered his book with a particular brand of social liberalism. Accordingly, Gabriel has done more work for criminal defendants than for the prosecution (although he worked for the U.S. attorney prosecuting Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker, and this case is presented in the book.)

The book has a long (50 pp.) introductory chapter giving an overview of different conceptions of justice practiced in America; the role of the jury; and the function of jury consulting. This introductory chapter could serve as a course reading in a political science or criminal justice course.

The main message of the book is that it is more important who gets left off a jury than who is included, and most of the work of a jury consultant is identifying for the benefit of the parties and the lawyers which prospective jurors need most to be removed from the pool. Repeatedly, Gabriel says he was looking for jurors who were "smart, skeptical, and independent." A secondary message is that pre-trial public opinion polling, focus group work, and jury questionnaires should also inform the themes that lawyers use in arguing their cases. For example, the lawyers prosecuting O.J. Simpson decided that domestic abuse would be the main theme of their case, despite their own jury consultants telling them that this message did not resonate with the kind of juror that dominated the jury pool in the case.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe real world of trial preparation
By Sue Boyd on September 6, 2014
Format: Hardcover
The low ratings of this book aren't fair to Mr. Gabriel. Its a good book. Well written and very insightful. The pre-trial research is not surprising to anyone in the legal community. EVERYONE uses focus groups in civil litigation. Some criminal defendants can afford it, the same way they can afford the best defense attorney in town. Get over it.
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5.0 out of 5 starsEasily the best book I've read all year
By KRS on June 18, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Expertly written, interesting, and informative. Certainly not a book that will be popular with the "accusation = guilt" Nancy Grace crowd, but a fascinating look at the factors that play into the verdicts. The book not only provides insight into these specific cases, but into the benefits and limitations of the justice system as a whole. I thought I was fairly well versed in how the system works, but I learned quite a bit! Highly recommended.

Note: ignore the one star reviews. Yes, people have differences of opinions and if you hate the book, you hate the book, but not a one of them seems to have even *read* the book and instead are using the Amazon reviews as a platform to air their views on the justice system as a whole. As I'm writing this, exactly one one-star review is an amazon verified buyer and even that one chose to give his thoughts on the system as opposed to reviewing the book. A lot of folks seem to be assuming this book is a cheat sheet on how to game the system and that's not really accurate. For one thing, the prosecution also uses trial consultants. For another, this very author also consults for the prosecution. To assume that the use of a trial consultant is moral when the prosecution does it, but immoral when the defense does it is faulty logic. Secondly, he makes it very clear that the major goal of trial consulting for the defense is to ensure that the defendant gets a fair trial with a jury that will look objectively at the evidence. These are things you would know if you read the book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsReview the book please
By Mark Cummings on June 5, 2014
Format: Hardcover
The one star ratings are not book reviews, they are personal opinions on the criminal justice system. Do us a favor: tell us if the book is well written and captivating.
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5.0 out of 5 starsJuries are often seen as mystical groups that can come ...
By Lynda Gross on July 15, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Juries are often seen as mystical groups that can come up with any decision. "Acquittal" casts an honest and entertaining light on how juries make decisions. It helps us understand how jurors use their common sense and past experience to sort through the avalanche of evidence poured on them. The book uses famous cases with which we are familiar as case studies. This is a must read for anyone interested in how our justice system renders its verdicts.
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5.0 out of 5 starsInsider story of recent high profile cases
By Allan on August 7, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Excellent insider story on tactics and strategies for pre-trial and trial actions designed to provide maximum advantage to the defense. Firsthand report of several recent high profile cases such as Casey Anthony acquittal.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIf one actually READS the book instead of just reacting to verdicts one does not like,
By RPM on June 4, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
it is a terrific read and a singular exploration of important ideas -- justice as aspiration, and justice as practiced by judges, by lawyers, by clients, by jurors, by citizens, and by media... 'cause each of those is different. These other reviews that criticize an author because they don't like the IDEA of what an author explores is like getting bent out of shape at a historian who writes about slavery; the topic might be unsettling or even repulsive, but when the truth is told with skill and insight, it is a great contribution to the conversation.

As for the other complaint that the poor reviewers seem to have -- that helping lawyers shape their cases for better results with layperson jurors is somehow "wrong" -- that is also getting mad at the wrong thing. Anyone who has ever thought that doctors could probably do a better job in how they talk (or don't) to us patients or had a sudden understanding about something a former teacher TRIED to get across years before but didn't get it across clearly back then, will see that anyone might be able to benefit from a translation from Subject Matter Expertese into Understandable Language As Spoken By Real People. And that maybe justice is actually, you know, HELPED by having jurors have a better understanding of what's going on as opposed to lofty, lawyerly, Latin-sprinkled speeches from windbag attorneys.

Bottom line: Richard's book is a great addition to the conversation... but is probably not going to be enjoyed by the more loyal of Nancy Grace's followers. So they should steer clear and read something else. But don't leave poor reviews of a book you OBVIOUSLY have not read because the news stories of the verdicts upset you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Book!

You will never look at a jury in the same way again, from the O. J. trial to others. Non-fiction...Great Book !!!

Published 1 month ago by Sharon R. Neuhaus
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

An unbelievably riveting and insightful read. Buy one to see for yourself!!

Published 9 months ago by Emma Laurent
3.0 out of 5 starsIt is simply not directed toward aiding a used car salesman to think...

I would give this book 3 stars. This books strength is that it is well written with sharp crisp prose that directs the reader through the books points and narration. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Mike
5.0 out of 5 starsRichard Gabriel is not deserving of bad reviews....

I have been a trial consultant as long as Gabriel and can assure you he is very talented, intelligent, and compassionate.

Published 10 months ago by Wendy Saxon
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

very interesting reading

Published 16 months ago by David L. Rettitg
2.0 out of 5 starsHow To Get Away With Murder, Call Me

I was very disappointed in this book. I thought it would give some background on these famous trials. All we really get is how Mr. Read more

Published 16 months ago by BuckyBadger
1.0 out of 5 starsBoring, Boring

Not at all what I thought it would be. I didn't even finish it! Boring,Boring!

Published 19 months ago by Darlene McClendon
1.0 out of 5 starsOne Star

boring. nothing new or even penned better than those collecting dust on bookshelves elsewhere. pass...

Published 19 months ago by debra
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat read for trial attorneys and those interested in the ...

Thoughtful and insightful. Great read for trial attorneys and those interested in the inner workings of trials.

Published 20 months ago by James C. Parker
3.0 out of 5 starsto learn that the very wealthy and/or those who become 'instant...

The book has some interesting parts. But it's depressing, and not surprising, to learn that the very wealthy and/or those who become 'instant celebrities' can afford consultants... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Fairly Reliable Bob

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