In 2012, presidential debates took over the primetime airwaves three times in October. More often than not, people remember how the candidates presented themselves in these debates as much as what they said. Many of the big moments from past debates were visual: George H.W. Bush looking at his watch in 1992; Al Gore sighing, rolling his eyes and invading the personal space of his opponent in 2000; John McCain generally coming across as grumpy and out of touch in 2008. Going back to the first televised presidential debate, many consider Richard Nixon’s appearance to have been a key problem in his race against John Kennedy.
The lesson from these debates is simple: Demeanor matters. As a trial attorney, I am firmly convinced that how jurors perceive a witness greatly impacts the weight they afford that witness’ testimony. In close-call cases, believability has quite a bit to do with demeanor. A seasoned trial lawyer and close family friend once explained it to me like this: If jurors trust and like your client, they usually find a way to take care of your client at the end of the day.
