james mccomas| Episode 09

So you've learned how to be comfortable in cross examination. Now what?

Jim McComas has spent decades redefining what's possible in the courtroom. From leading the trial division at the Washington D.C. Public Defender Service to becoming a legendary homicide defense lawyer in Alaska, Jim didn't just master cross-examination. He reimagined it.

Building on the fundamentals explored in our previous episode with Matt Dodd, Jim introduces his next steps: dynamic cross-examination. Forget rigid scripts and predictable patterns. Jim argues that the lawyers who win hard cases are the ones willing to take calculated risks — turning witnesses into active participants in cross.

Drawing from his book Dynamic Cross Examination, Jim reveals how to gather your own facts, pull them out with precision, and stay fluid when the unexpected happens. If you've ever wondered what separates a good cross from a great one, this episode is your answer.