Circumstantial evidence is not, as they [defense counsel]…
![“Circumstantial evidence is not, as they [defense counsel] claim, like a chain. You could have a chain spanning the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Bordeaux, France, consisting of millions of links, and with one weak link that chain is broken. Circumstantial evidence, to the contrary, is like a…” quote by David Bagby](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/7b4/david-bagby-30443_atlantic-ocean_circumstantial-evidence-is-not-as-they-d_2121958.jpg)
““Circumstantial evidence is not, as they [defense counsel] claim, like a chain. You could have a chain spanning the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Bordeaux, France, consisting of millions of links, and with one weak link that chain is broken. Circumstantial evidence, to the contrary, is like a rope. And each fact is a strand of that rope. And as the prosecution piles one fact upon another we add strands and we add strength to that rope. If one strand breaks—and I’m not conceding for a moment that any strand has broken in this case—but if one strand does break, the rope is not broken. The strength of the rope is barely diminished. Why? Because there are so many other strands of almost steel-like strength that the rope is still more than strong enough to bind these two defendants to justice. That’s what circumstantial evidence is all about.5””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Circumstantial evidence builds strength through many independent facts, like strands in a rope, making the case robust even if one fact fails.
In simple terms: Many facts together make a strong case, even if one is weak.
Key Takeaway
Focus on gathering multiple supporting facts.
Themes
law
evidence
logic
justice
Mood
analytical
critical
objective
Type
legal
explanatory
When to use this quote
- criminal trial
- defense strategy
- prosecution case
- jury deliberation
Key Concepts
probabilistic reasoning
burden of proof
corroboration
Questions to Reflect On
- How many independent facts are needed to convince a jury?
- What happens if the strongest strand is discredited?
A Different Perspective
If a single fact is disproven, the overall case may still hold if other facts are strong.