As personal injury attorneys in Kansas City, we must often go to court for our clients. When that happens, who you get as a judge can have a significant effect on how much compensation you get.
Here are three of the reasons why:
1. They control the evidence.
Although it is ultimately up to a jury to decide who’s at fault in a personal injury case and how much money the plaintiff should get, the judge decides what evidence the jury hears. Judges are the gatekeepers of the evidence.
If one party thinks the jury shouldn’t hear certain evidence, they can try and convince the judge to keep it out. When that evidence is a major part of your case, its absence can cause you to lose or get a smaller verdict.
2. They can kick your case out.
The defense lawyer may move the court to dismiss your case or even grant them judgment without a trial, and it is within the judge’s power to do so if they’re convinced. Needless to say, the value of your case is greatly affected if the judge kicks it out.
3. They can influence the jury.
In addition to their many roles, judges also act as emcees for a trial, making announcements, calling for breaks, and issuing rulings and instructions. They are a great influence on a jury. If the judge makes even the slightest suggestion of partiality to one side, it can influence the jury.
So if the judge doesn’t like you or your case, hope they have a good poker face so it doesn’t affect the jury.There are many other ways a judge can affect the value of a personal injury case. If you have questions about how, please do not hesitate to contact our firm. Here at Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, we’ve handled hundreds of lawsuits and are familiar with the judges in the Kansas City area.