Winston & Strawn Lawyer Collaborates With Judge to Write Jury Trial Reference
Tom Melsheimer
The University of North Texas Press is releasing a lawyers’ guide to courtroom preparation and strategy titled “On the Jury Trial: Principles and Practices for Effective Advocacy.”
Texas trial lawyer and Winston & Strawn Dallas managing partner Tom Melsheimer and Texas judge Craig Smith wrote the book, which covers jury selection, witness preparation, opening statements, jury research, and more.
Judge Craig Smith
“In an age when the jury trial is vanishing, I think a book such as ours is a must-read,” said Melsheimer. “To preserve the jury trial, we must preserve the skills involved in trying a case effectively and efficiently. Judge Smith and I wrote this to add to that effort.”
Trial lawyers whose comments appear on the book’s jacket laud the work for its down-to-earth advice, illustration and commentary.
“Real-world, real-life insights. A book that every lawyer should read,” said Michael E. Tigar, author of “Persuasion: The Litigator’s Art and Examining Witnesses.”
“I will definitely order a copy of this book for every associate in my firm and recommend that others do so too,” said Steve Susman of Susman Godfrey L.L.P.
Before being elected to the 192nd District Court in Dallas County in 2006, Judge Smith was a trial lawyer for more than 25 years. As a judge, he was honored as Trial Judge of the Year by the Dallas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was elected president of the Texas Association of District Judges in 2010.
Melsheimer has tried cases for more than 30 years. He is a past “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates and by the Dallas Bar Association. He is a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates.
