CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer have teamed up to create a new television series based on Richard Gabriel‘s acclaimed book, Acquittal. Gabriel has previously worked with IAALS and the Rule One Initiative on jury trial issues, including our publication A Return to Trials: Implementing Effective Short, Summary, and Expedited Civil Action Programs.
Acquittal focuses on a trial consultant who at times works for both the prosecution and the defense, using unorthodox strategies and ideas, which are often more psychological than legal. Through detailed descriptions of his work on high profile cases, Gabriel discusses the court of law versus the court of public opinion, voir dire and jury selection strategies, trial tactics, and the challenge of getting a fair trial in the digital age.
The TV series would dramatize high profile cases like those of O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector, and Heidi Fleiss, as well as Enron and Whitewater.
Riley Combelic is a third-year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and contributes to IAALS Online. Please direct inquiries about this post to iaals@du.edu.