Sweet visuals to sway jurors: a jelly doughnut as a stand-in for a herniated disk? By all means,...

The days when a Polaroid photo of an accident scene sufficed as demonstrative evidence in an automobile case are long gone. Today, any picture you present to a jury, whether displayed physically or painted verbally, must appeal to all the senses.

But compelling demonstrative evidence doesn't have to break the bank. Props that cost mere pennies can be just as persuasive as evidence that is professionally produced for thousands of dollars--if you know how use it effectively.

Whether evidence is gripping and powerful or boring and forgettable often depends on h