Here’s an interesting website for lawyers.  Douglas O. Linder, Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas has put together materials from “Famour Trials.”  The website includes transcripts and other information about trials such as the Nuremburg Trials, the Chicago 7 Trials, the OJ trial, the Mississippi Burning Trial and the Scopes “Monkey” Trial.  There is also a link to an article that Linder wrote about compilng the website.

When I was a young lawyer, one of my mentors read the transcripts of cross-examinations in famous trials and strongly recommended that I do the same.  I particularly remembered the cross examination of Dr. Binger in the Alger Hiss trial as being exceptional, so I re-read it this morning.  Just as I recalled, the questioning attorney was meticulous in addressing the bases of the expert's opinion.   This is how the cross-examination is described on Linder's website: 

Dr. Carl A. Binger testified for the defense as a psychiatric expert.  Based on his reading of selected writings of Whittaker Chambers and observation of Chambers on the witness stand, Binger testified that he concluded Chambers  had "psychopathic personality" and was "a pathological liar."  However, in a devastating cross-examination, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Murphy raised serious questions about Binger's credibility.  One commentator said admiringly, "Mr. Murphy just wanted plain answers to plain questions--about the most alarming  assignment anyone would wish on a psychiatrist."  Murphy, through his questions, suggested that the label "psychopathic personality" was useless and empty catch-all of a lot of symptoms.

I highly recommend that you read this excellent cross examination and look at the other materials from these great trials. 

Thanks to Moritz Legal information!