I am just a simple old man that believes right is what is important. I would rather teach a person than shove something down their throat. It is important for them to learn to think for themselves. All I do is try to give an opposing side to cause them to think. It is important for the new investigators to learn nothing is ever completely right or completely wrong. You can always learn something from a person you may disagree with. Hell, I am still learning every day.

One of my new things is that before I testify at a trial, I ask for the jury’s profile. This is so I will know something about the people I am communicating with. During this I may find a person or person I believe may be easier to connect with, thereby I will focus my eye contact on these individuals. On two recent trials, I used this technique to go to extent. As I spoke, I could see these persons were making good eye contact with me to the point of nodding their heads at times. I later learn after the jury deliberations that these persons advocated for my position during their deliberation.

I am also luck to work with the company I am now attached to. The person running the company believes heavily in 921 but is also willing to listen to what I have to say and accept new ideas. Even though he has strong beliefs about the quality of 921 he also understands that everything in the document is not correct. Believe me, we have had some arguments to the point I thought he would throw me out the door but then the conversation went to the point of how I support what I was saying. If I could give him good support, I could see he was willing to consider what I was saying to be true. I’m not saying that we were always will agree with the fact that he listens to me and he’s willing to accept my opinion shows he is thinking on his own as to what is right and wrong.

I believe there is always hope.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group