NOVEMBER 2025 | 75 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL humanity that transforms a rare trial into a memorable one, building trust in both the advocate and the case itself. TECHNOLOGY AS SUPPORT, NOT A CENTERPIECE The past two decades have transformed the courtroom. Trial presentation software, digital exhibits and interactive timelines can now be pulled up with a click. Visuals are cleaner, evidence is easier to organize, and complex information can be displayed in ways that would have been impossible with paper exhibits alone. Jurors benefit from these tools because they reduce confusion and help create order in an otherwise overwhelming stream of testimony and evidence. However, technology is not persuasion by itself. Jurors are not present to evaluate graphics, admire polished transitions or watch a perfectly timed animation. What they are judging is the credibility of the case and the lawyer presenting it. A closing argument packed with dynamic slides may dazzle, but if the attorney never makes eye contact or responds to the jurors’ reactions, the substance is lost behind the screen. The lawyers who use technology most effectively are those who know when to step away from it. A well-timed demonstration can bring clarity to a financial transaction or a timeline of events. Yet, when the proceedings reach an emotional climax, such as a witness reliving trauma or a victim’s family sharing their grief, it is often the lawyer’s deliberate silence that speaks the loudest. In these moments, the absence of words paired with attentive presence can create a space for genuine emotion and connection that no technological display can match. Jurors are far more likely to remember the impact of a lawyer’s respectful quiet than any animated graphic or visual aid. There is also the danger of overreliance. Anyone who has practiced in court knows the anxiety of the frozen laptop or the exhibit that refuses to load. Technology failures not only disrupt flow but can also undercut juror confidence in the lawyer’s preparation. Having a simple backup, such as a printed timeline, a whiteboard sketch or even a handout demonstrates foresight and steadiness under pressure. Practical takeaways include: Choose demonstratives that are simple and flexible. A cluttered slide distracts; a clean visual clarifies. Always have a backup plan. Jurors respect preparedness when technology stumbles. Build in flexibility. Organize visuals so that they can be shown out of order if testimony shifts. Know when to stop. Step away from the screen and speak directly to the jury when the moment demands authenticity.
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