Impeachment of witnesses is "an alien, mystifying and obtuse area of the law" write the authors of MacCarthy on Impeachment. While there are many books on evidence and trial advocacy, there is very little written specifically on the law of impeachment. Generally, impeachment law is found in the law of evidence, however, it frequently involves different applications of the law of evidencewhich can be confusing. In MacCarthy on Impeachment, 16 methods of impeachment are discussed: inconsistent statements; contradictions; motivation; truthfulness; convictions; what the witness could of done, but did not; capacity; bad acts, crimes, and wrongs; habit, writing used to refresh memory; an opposing party's statement; the hearsay defendant; character witnesses; and certain evidence of sexual behavior by the alleged victim of the defendant. And for expert witnesses only, two methods of impeachment: qualifications and curriculum vitae and learned treatises. From the author of the legal classic, MacCarthy on Cross Examination, MacCarthy on Impeachment is a groundbreaking work that will become an indispensable resource for trial attorneys seeking to improve their skills and better serve their clients.
Sean P. MacCarthy is a Partner with Chittenden, Murday & Novotny, LLC, a Chicago law firm. Sean graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign–Urbana in 1985, earning Phi Beta Kappa distinction. Sean received his J.D. degree in 1988 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Sean has tried cases in state courts and federal courts involving many areas including complex commercial matters, medical malpractice, and divorce. Sean also maintains an active pro-bono practice.
Mr. MacCarthy graduated at the top of his class from St. Joseph's College in 1955, with a B.A. in Philosophy. After serving as a Lieutenant in the Marines, he attended law school at DePaul, graduating again in the top ten percent of his class in 1960. Following graduation, he served as an Assistant Professor of contracts and real property before beginning a clerkship to former Chief Judge William J. Campbell of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and serving as Illinois Special Assistant Attorney General, specializing in civil trials and appeals. Since 1966, he has been the Executive Director of the Federal Defender Program in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He was selected for the position by the judges of the District Court and the deans of the six Chicago law schools. As Executive Director, Mr. MacCarthy is primarily responsible for the administration of the unique and highly successful program that provides counsel for some 1500 defendants each year who are charged with federal crimes but are unable to afford private counsel. Since its beginning, the office is frequently reported as being one of the best defender offices in the nation. In addition to his overall administrative responsibilities, Mr. MacCarthy continues to try cases personally and train his staff and assist them in the handling of their cases. Under his leadership, a legal internship program provides law students the opportunity to participate in all stages of a federal criminal defense. Always a strong believer in mentoring, Mr. MacCarthy has authored and published over twenty legal articles. He continues to write, lecture throughout the United States and serves on the Permanent Faculty of six law schools. A 1999 Mercer Law Review article entitled The Calling of Criminal Defense, says of him, He has taught trial advocacy to lawyers and law students in every state in the country and is known for his humor and wit." Terrence MacCarthy is a member of the American, Illinois, Chicago, Federal and Seventh Circuit Bar Associations, the Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National College of Criminal Defense, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers serving on the Board of each. He has been awarded the DePaul University College of Law 1994 Alumni Service Award, the 1993 National Association of Criminal Lawyers Distinguished Service Award, the Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice 1993 Annual Award for Extraordinary Contribution to the Goals and Ideals of the Association, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice 1990 Annual Award for Significant Contribution to Criminal Justice and the 1989 University of Virginia School of Law William J. Brennan, Jr. Award, presented to him by Justice Brennan.
The Honorable Terence F. MacCarthy teaches Trial Advocacy extensively around the country to experienced lawyers as well as law students. As a faculty member for many distinguished Trial Advocacy programs he uses lectures, small group teaching, and improv to develop storytelling, communication, and advocacy skills. Terence served for twenty years with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, working as both an Assistant Public Defender, and for his last seven years, as an Attorney Supervisor in the Felony Trial Division at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building at “26th and California.” Terence was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, in 2010.
