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Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz first met international relations expert and five-book author Abiodun Williams when they were university students. When Jon Katz at that first sit down mentioned all the very important things left to learn on his path, Abi summed up the right approach perfectly: "Information overload." Abi clearly has dealt with his share of expansive data and other information and writings, having tackled demanding obligations starting in his student years, followed by overseas peacemaking and conflict resolution missions, working with United Nations secretaries general, serving at a high level at the United States Institute for Peace, and now back as a professor of international relations.

By now, Jon Katz has learned the persuasive, self development, internal health, and time management benefits of paring down the data bombarding our heads, by focusing on and working in the present moment; quieting the mind through mindfulness, taijiquan martial arts practice, and full attention and focus; and recognizing that trials are not about chasing the strength and preparedness of opponents, rather than to go to the courtroom battlefield fully prepared for the expected and unknown, fully focused on persuading the judge and jury, and not getting sucked into any sideshows presented by prosecutors and opposing witnesses.

This entire conversation lends itself well to criminal defense work, where even a usually more desirable judge and more desirable prosecutor can seriously disappoint the criminal defense lawyer, if for no other reason than that their oaths, agendas and obligations are not the same as that of the criminal defense lawyer, and their personalities, tendencies and own frustrations are completely human.

This conversation includes discussing Roger Fisher's and William Ury's essential getting to yes approach to negotiations and conflicts, where the focus is on discovering and overlapping the parties' goals and interests rather than digging into postilions and getting stuck over personalities (and, I add, transcending words that reach even the level of coming across as insults) of the negotiating parties. William Ury aptly talks about the importance of developing our own selves in the process of negotiating, including finding a pause to move in the right direction at a challenging crossroads, Fisher & Ury also address the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA), where Jon Katz's BATNA usually is proceeding to trial.

Abi Williams well exemplifies the spirit of mining and pursuing the possibilities in the midst of conflict, rather than getting sucked into any boobytraps or black holes along the way.

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This episode is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/GfNV6Dp1YrM.

This podcast with Fairfax, Virginia criminal / DUI lawyer Jon Katz is playable on all devices at podcast.BeatTheProsecution.com. For more information, visit https://KatzJustice.com or contact us at info@KatzJustice.com, 703-383-1100 (calling), or 571-406-7268 (text).

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