CCBA Welcomes Judge Gonzales

Trial Skills CLE: Practical Day
SUZAN CLARK
Hearsay Special Correspondent
On May 5, 2012 the Clark County Bar Association sponsored a
day long trial skills CLE at the Clark County Courthouse. In the
preceding months, the CCBA sponsored a number of Nuts &
Bolts CLE’s providing instruction on the various phases of a trial
including jury selection, direct and cross examination of witnesses,
opening statements and closing arguments. The trial
skills seminar served as an opportunity for participants to practice
and hone the trial skills they had learned in the classroom.
Participants met at the Clark County Courthouse at 7:45 a.m. on
a Saturday morning to present the various parts of a trial in small
groups with a judge and a trial mentor. Judge Nichols, Judge
Lewis and Judge Melnick graciously volunteered their time to
preside over the various phases of the trial. Don Jacobs and myself
served as mentors providing critiques and suggestions to the participants.
Don and I also played witnesses in the direct
examination and cross examination parts of the trial. Don won
rave reviews for his performance as a defense expert witness in a
auto collision case and I tormented the attorneys with my performance
as a heroin addicted defendant in a criminal fact pattern.
Representing Injured
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Busick Hamrick, PLLC
All participants served as “jurors” during the jury selection session and
the remainder of the day smaller groups of attorneys worked with a
judge and a mentor in an actual courtroom to individually present the
material. Where possible, attorney participants were given the option
of presenting material from an actual case they were working on. I
had the pleasure of working with all three judges during the day and
all of the attorney participants. From the perspective of 26 years as a
litigator, I learned many things from my participation in the CLE.
Many thanks to our CLE Committee Chair, Jane Clark who
planned and participated in the event on Saturday and gave birth
to a baby girl on Monday! Thanks to Don Jacobs lending his litigation
expertise to the CLE. Thanks to our bar staff for their
administrative support early on a Saturday morning.
A special thanks to Judge Lewis, Judge Nichols and Judge Melnick for
volunteering to serve as judges to provide a realistic trial experience for
our participants. The feedback from members of the bench to participants
made this a terrific learning experience for everyone involved.
CHUCK
CORRIGAN
Steven L. Busick Frances R. Hamrick Douglas M. Palmer
(360) 696-0228
1915 Washington Street Vancouver, WA 98660
HEARSAY - MAY 2012 9