Old War Horse

Courts, Comedy and Cinema

This seminar follows a criminal case from the arrest of the person throughout trial, sentencing and incarceration. Case law, constitutional amendments, ethical considerations and professional ideals of the bar are presented through film clips from over 125 movies, photo's and news articles. This is a full day seminar. However, due to the number of topics available, specific seminars can be addressed within an allotted time.

Attorneys' and the Courts: A Tarnished Image

By using scenes from movies and newspaper articles that depict the legal profession in less than honorable light, this seminar addresses ethical considerations and professional ideals through the experiences of a scarred and battered, yet very proud "Old War Horse" prosecutor. This seminar is approximately two and a half hours.

Jury Selection, Evidence and Witnesses

This seminar focuses attention to the decision to proceed with a jury or non-jury trial as well as the methods and strategies in the selection of jurors. Witnesses' demeanor, credibility and control are observed through movie scenes addressing their intelligence, character and expertise. Visuals and movie scenes further highlight types of evidence, courtroom demonstrations and police training techniques. This seminar is approximately two and a half hours.'

Kettmann/ Finger-Gambrell Murder

Blanche Kettmanns' 18-year-old son was having an affair with 36-year-old Jimmie Sue Finger, a beautician in Kennesaw, Ga. Terry Finger was murdered in February 1985. Mike Kettmann confessed to killing Terry and was steadfast that Jimmie Sue was not involved. Mike was sentenced to life in prison. For the next three years Blanche Kettmann befriended Jimmie Sue Finger. They traveled together and celebrated holiday's together. Then Jimmie Sue let her guard down and Mike allowed the truth to be told. This fascinating story led to the movie "Stay the Night", starring Barbara Hershey and Morgan Weiser. The lecture includes TV coverage of the case, interviews with friends and police and Kettmann family photo's, as well as insights from personal conversations with Mike and Blanche Kettmann. This lecture is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes in length.

The Trial of Leo Frank

This 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan at the National Pencil Factory in Atlanta, Georgia set the stage for an ambitious prosecutor; the credibility of a Negro vs. Caucasian; the resurrection of the KKK; the election of a Senator; the downfall of a Governor; the fate of a "Yankee Jew" and a lifelong secret to be kept by a 14-year-old boy till his 80's. This lecture chronicles the events from the arrest of Leo M. Frank to his lynching in Marietta, Georgia in 1915. The lecture is approximately two hours.

"Excellent seminar. Not only from legal point of view but also a historical event."

"One of the best CLE presentations I have attended. Van not only presented a tragic, compelling story, he pointed out horrible prosecutorial misconduct as well as horrible representation of an innocent man."

"Excellent!! Very good mastery of the subject matter; great speaker; one of the best CLE's I've ever attended!! Thank you."

"Kept my interest which is not usual for CLE."

"Excellent! Informative! Humorous!"

"Your recent lecture on Jury Selection, Evidence and Witnesses to the prosecutors in our office was a big hit. The only downside is that our office has two more lectures scheduled for our three part lecture series, and the staff's expectations have been raised too high by your presentation. I do not believe that I ever enjoyed a continuing legal education lecture as much as I enjoyed your lecture."