NYT wrote:
Rosie, the first judicially approved courtroom dog in New York, was in the witness box here nuzzling a 15-year-old girl who was testifying that her father had raped and impregnated her. Rosie sat by the teenager’s feet. At particularly bad moments, she leaned in.
When the trial ended in June with the father’s conviction, the teenager "was most grateful to Rosie above all," said David A. Crenshaw, a psychologist who works with the teenager.
When the trial ended in June with the father’s conviction, the teenager "was most grateful to Rosie above all," said David A. Crenshaw, a psychologist who works with the teenager.
There's the emotional, heart-string-y part. And now the counter-argument:
Quote:
His lawyers, David S. Martin and Steven W. Levine of the public defender’s office, have raised a series of objections that they say seems likely to land the case in New York’s highest court. They argue that as a therapy dog, Rosie responds to people under stress by comforting them, whether the stress comes from confronting a guilty defendant or lying under oath.
But they say jurors are likely to conclude that the dog is helping victims expose the truth. "Every time she stroked the dog," Mr. Martin said in an interview, "it sent an unconscious message to the jury that she was under stress because she was telling the truth."
"There was no way for me to cross-examine the dog," Mr. Martin added.
But they say jurors are likely to conclude that the dog is helping victims expose the truth. "Every time she stroked the dog," Mr. Martin said in an interview, "it sent an unconscious message to the jury that she was under stress because she was telling the truth."
"There was no way for me to cross-examine the dog," Mr. Martin added.
I have no idea how visible the dog was during the testimony itself but I'd assume it would be obvious when the person strokes the animal.
Courtroom Comfort Dogs
Worth the issues if it helps victims come out with the truth: | ![]() ![]() ![]() | 15 (60.0%) |
Not worth the potential impact on the jury: | ![]() ![]() ![]() | 7 (28.0%) |
I have some other opinion!: | ![]() ![]() ![]() | 3 (12.0%) |
Total: | 25 |