Overheard at the Lamar Law Center

‘Trials Of The Century’ Require Special Media Handling

Jack Ford Attorney, television broadcast personality

Public lecture



Jack Ford, well-known television broadcaster, said media have responsibilities when covering high-profile cases.

In a Sept. 21 lecture, Jack Ford, a co-host on the daily Court TV trial program “Banfield & Ford: Courtside,” observed that on any given day legal issues and court cases are covered in the news. The legal system plays a centralized role in today’s society, especially by exposure through the media.

“Throughout history, people have been fascinated with court cases,” said Ford. “The courthouse for a long time has been the figurative and literal center of communities.”

Ford said that in order for the media to report on the legal system adequately, it should handle high-profile legal cases by accurately conveying the court process.

“It has nothing to do with the verdict,” Ford said. “The main thing was, Did the viewers get a good understanding of the legal system?”

The example he gave of a poorly covered high-profile case was the O.J. Simpson trial. It was a failure due to the media’s inability to portray the true process of the legal system, Ford said. In the O.J. Simpson trial, the lawyers and other “players” of the court became too disorderly, causing a distorted perception of the processes that take place during a customary court case, he said.

Ford also expressed his support of cameras in the courtroom. The recordings can be available for the average citizen to view, which will lead to a better understanding of the legal process by the average media consumer.

Formerly, Ford hosted the ESPN show “The Sports Reporters II” for one year and later co-hosted the nationally syndicated show “Ali & Jack.” His broadcast career began in 1984 as the legal commentator at New York’s WCBS-TV, and he became one of Court TV’s first anchors from 1991-94. Afterward, he worked as an NBC News chief legal correspondent appearing on “NBC Nightly News,” “The Today Show” and “Dateline,” in addition to serving as co-anchor for “The Weekend Today Show.” In 1999, Ford became an ABC anchor/correspondent for “Good Morning America” and “20/20.”

Law Dean Samuel M. Davis said Ford is uniquely qualified to talk about high-profile cases.

“As a former prosecutor and attorney in private practice, he was involved in several high-profile cases, and as an anchor on Court TV and a former anchor on other networks, including ‘The Weekend Today Show,’ he made a thoughtful, dynamic and informative presentation,” Davis said. “He was an instant hit when he spoke to our law students a few years ago, and our current students were equally impressed with his charm and presence.”

Before his career in broadcast journalism, Ford studied at Yale University and later attended Fordham University School of Law. His knowledge of legal work stems from his three years of experience as a New Jersey prosecutor and his later entrance into private practice. He has taught as an adjunct professor of law at Fordham and written articles for a range of legal publications. This year he is teaching a course on “Trials of the Century” at Yale University.

Ford’s exceptional broadcast work has been honored with two Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, an American Radio and Television Award, the National Headliner Award and the March of Dimes FDR Award. In 1997, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, and People magazine recognized him as the “Sexiest News Anchor” in 1999.