Fred Haddad has practiced criminal defense for roughly 50 years. On Episode 69, he joins Daniel Rosenberg for a no-holds-barred conversation about a career that began after the protests of the 1960s.
The old courtroom
Haddad describes a time when courtrooms felt like a community, with a more informal culture among lawyers and judges. He explains how courts became more formal over the years, and how and when a lawyer should push back on a judge.
The craft
The heart of the episode is the craft of trial work. Haddad explains why he sees a trial as a kind of performance, shares his counterintuitive approach to picking a jury and breaks down what makes a cross-examination effective.
What has been lost
He also reflects on what modern practice has lost and what is still worth keeping.
His advice for the next generation of lawyers is simple and hard to follow. Keep your word.
This brief summarizes reporting and analysis discussed on Two Taps and Friends. It is not legal advice.
