Semantic tricks in the courtroom can confuse the reasonable person

Trials are conducted under a strict set of conversational rules that are well-known to attorneys and judges but can turn out to be a confusing mire of potential tricks for even that mythical reasonable person that many of our laws talk about. (via Language Log)

Three illustrative blog posts on (potential) semantic artistry/trickery in the courtroom:

1.  Inferences in Perjury Cases
2.  More Prosecutorial Trick Questions
3.  Memory in the Courtroom

Posted by Toni Urquhart