When I was a young deputy sheriff, we had what was commonly called the "CSI Effect." That popular television drama had a profound impact on public expectations regarding criminal investigations. Viewers came to believe that crime scene technology could solve virtually any crime in a matter of minutes. The reality was very different.
There is not a forensic laboratory in the world that can process fingerprints, DNA, toxicology reports, or other evidence in the time depicted on television. If crime dramas accurately portrayed the process, it would make for terrible entertainment. In real life, investigators process a crime scene wearing protective suits—not designer clothing—and then wait days, weeks, or sometimes months for laboratory results. The legal system suffers from a similar misconception.
Television and movies condense months or years of legal work into a two-hour film or a one-hour episode. In A Time to Kill, viewers see a dramatic courtroom battle, but they do not see the countless pretrial motions, discovery disputes, evidentiary hearings, and procedural requirements that must occur before a murder case ever reaches a jury.
Likewise, My Cousin Vinny would have been a much longer movie if it accurately depicted the timeline of a criminal case. Vinny would have spent the better part of a year in Alabama before the case ever reached trial.
Even modern legal dramas take shortcuts. Shows such as All's Fair focus on dramatic courtroom moments and glamorous personalities, but they leave out the tedious yet critical work that lawyers perform every day. Family law clients rarely see the stack of financial affidavits, mandatory disclosures, discovery requests, mediation preparation documents, and repeated updates required before a final hearing can even be scheduled.
Many clients come to us wanting a quick resolution. That is understandable. Nobody enjoys being involved in litigation. However, the legal process takes time because it is designed to protect the rights of everyone involved. Courts require evidence to be gathered, documents to be exchanged, witnesses to be interviewed, and legal issues to be properly researched and presented.
A rushed legal process often leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to bad outcomes. Taking the necessary time to thoroughly prepare a case is often the difference between a favorable result and an unfavorable one.
At Chesser & Barr, we understand that waiting can be frustrating. We also understand that television has created unrealistic expectations about how quickly legal matters can be resolved. Our job is to guide you through the process, keep you informed, and ensure that your case receives the careful attention it deserves – to help take the frustration out of the “waiting.”
Patience is not a sign that nothing is happening. More often than not, it is a sign that the legal system is working exactly as it should.
About the Author: Joseph “JP” Paul is an attorney with the Crestview office of Chesser & Barr. A former Sheriff’s Deputy and military police officer, he continued his calling of service to his community by becoming a lawyer and working both as an Assistant State Attorney and an Assistant Public Defender prior to entering private practice. His experiences in these roles aid him in continuing to provide excellent legal services to the clients he serves.