steve hurley| Episode 16

In this episode, we discuss the growing gap between what happens in a real trial and what shows up on screen, why Hollywood keeps inventing drama when the truth is already dramatic enough, and how those choices have reshaped the way the public understands the presumption of innocence.

Our guest is uniquely positioned to see both sides of this gap. Steve Hurley has spent decades as a criminal defense attorney in Madison, Wisconsin. He's also written for legal TV shows and movies including Primal Fear and Picket Fences, for which he shared an Emmy award. When the media portrays defense attorneys as sleazy and defendants as guilty, those stereotypes bleed into real courtroom decisions. Steve shows us what defense attorneys can and must do in trial to counter this. 

Come learn along with us!