July President Column
New Term, New President
July 2009
The American Society of Trial Consultants’ 28th Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA. Raising the Bar – Experiencing New Heights, lived up to its reputation. We experienced powerfully interactive programs! ASTC’s conference at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta at Buckhead increased its rich foundation of teaching what we know about juries and establishing professional standards that guide responsible trial consulting practice. We had a balance of skills training, networking, and understanding how the economy affects jury awards, the legal market, and one’s practice. The conference contained twenty-one programs, CLE credit, receptions, speed meet, workshops, exhibits, annual banquet honoring our Lifetime Achievement recipient and pro bono awards, dinner at Ashton Kutcher’s Dolce with bowling & billiards, and golf at East Lake Golf Club. There are numerous program highlights on the conference page including front-page coverage by the Atlanta Daily Report of Dr. David Matsumoto’s keynote “To Tell the Truth”.
Our Annual Conference is always a fabulous time in renewing friendships and building new ones. During October 1982 in Phoenix, Arizona, the first ASTC Annual Conference gathered many pioneer trial consultants and established ASTC as a national professional association for trial consultants. Many trial consultant pioneers are still involved which speaks to the stability and strength of our Society. Our model of professional services and high standards, along with continual sharing of research techniques, communication methods and jury research in our body of publications (The Jury Expert and Court Call) and our library of materials that soon will be online with free downloads to members.
We are the “go to” place to learn what is happening within trial consulting. Many members’ diverse educational degrees in psychology, sociology, communication, theater, graphic arts, law, and other related areas bring us together to share opinions. While we are existential in ListServ discussions and inquiries about day-to-day practices and the latest news on jurors’ blogging, we look to the future. This year our leadership will collaborate in strategy sessions developing our vision of the Society for the next few years. To borrow from Hillary Clinton, “It takes a village,” our Society’s growth is a correlate, of our committees’ activities along with membership-wide input.
This past year as the Atlanta Conference Chair, I enjoyed interacting with many members. I look forward to this year stepping up as President and invite you to join me as this Society collaborates in building our committee teams (i.e., Development, Membership, Pro Bono and Awards, Professional Education, Professional Standards, Professional Visibility, Program Planning, Research) and furthering our goals. Those who get involved benefit even more from shared activities. My thanks to the many active committee members and my encouragement to those who want to volunteer. Be one of the proud active members of this Society, visit the committee pages and contact the chair.
Cynthia Cohen, Ph.D.
President, American Society of Trial Consultants