Essays on psychology, narrative, and strategy in high-stakes litigation.

Understanding a defendant's life story does not excuse the act. It refuses to pretend that human behavior emerges from nowhere — and that distinction can be decisive in a courtroom.

By Keith Ablow, M.D.

Psychological insight can transform voir dire from a search for obvious bias into a deeper understanding of how prospective jurors decide whom to trust, what to doubt and what feels fair.

By Keith Ablow, M.D.

A witness gives an answer that seems responsive. Nothing in it is obviously explosive. But something registers. After 25 years practicing psychiatry, I learned not to let that moment disappear.

By Keith Ablow, M.D.