Maureen A. Howard

Professor of Law

Contact

Phone: (206) 616-6236
Email: mahoward@uw.edu

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Education

B.A., Gonzaga University J.D., University of Washington

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

Criminal Procedure — Evidence — Law of Juries — Negotiation — Trial Advocacy and Practice

Recent Courses

Course Number	Course Name
LAW B 503	Evidence

Selected Publications

Maureen Howard & Jennifer Aronson, The Law of Evidence in Washington (5th ed. Matthew Bender 2013 & 2025 supp.).
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal) Vol. 11 (5th ed. Thomson Reuters/West 2024) (Maureen Howard, contributing author and editor)
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (Civil) Vols. 6 & 6A (7th ed. Thomson Reuters/West 2022) (contributing author and editor).
Robert H. Aronson & Maureen A. Howard, The Law of Evidence in Washington (5th ed. Matthew Bender Feb. 2013 and 2024 supp.).
Maureen A. Howard & Jeffery C. Barnum, Bringing Demonstrative Evidence in from the Cold: The Academy's Role in Developing Model Rules, 88 Temple L. Rev. 513-49 (2016).

See the full list under the Publications tab below.

Biography
Publications
Presentations

Professor Howard's research and teaching interests center in the areas of evidence, criminal procedure, prosecutorial ethics, the law of juries, and trial advocacy. She has served as director of the law school's Trial Advocacy Program, director of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s Northwest Regional Trial Skills program, and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong. Professor Howard has taught trial advocacy for over 25 years: in addition to teaching at the UW School of Law, she has taught trial skills at Harvard Law School, Emory Law School and Loyola University law school. She has also taught at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy programs at Stanford University, University of San Francisco, William Mitchell College of Law, Seattle University, and University of Colorado law school.

Professor Howard began her career as a civil litigator with a large national law firm, where she concentrated her practice in commercial and employment law. After twelve years, she moved to the King County Prosecutor's Office where she tried criminal felony cases. She later became a judge pro tempore, presiding over both civil and criminal trials, until joining the law school faculty in 2002.

In addition to her law school teaching, Professor Howard has worked with trial lawyers internationally, consulting on pending cases and training attorneys. Her work has taken her all over the world, from the University of Nairobi Kenya School of Law in Africa to the Department of Public Prosecutions in Dublin, Ireland.

Professor Howard co-authors a treatise on Washington evidence law with Professor Robert Aronson and serves on the Washington Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. She writes and speaks nationally on evidence and trial advocacy and has appeared on several television programs as a legal commentator. Professor Howard is admitted to practice in Washington and California, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Peer Reviewed Journals & Law Reviews

Maureen A. Howard & Jeffery C. Barnum, Bringing Demonstrative Evidence in from the Cold: The Academy's Role in Developing Model Rules, 88 Temple L. Rev. 513-49 (2016).
Maureen A. Howard, Revisiting Trial Basics Every Time: A Ritual for Courtroom Success, 34 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 335-75 (2011).
Maureen A. Howard, Taking the High Road: Why Prosecutors Should Voluntarily Waive Peremptory Challenges, 23 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 369-420 (2010).
Short-Term Lending of Deferred Associates to Public Service: Is a Win-Win Idea at Risk of Becoming a Lose-Lose-Lose Endeavor? (forthcoming)
Maureen A. Howard, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes to Courtroom Attire for Women, 45 Gonz. L. Rev. 209-24 (2009-10).

Books or Treatises

Maureen Howard & Jennifer Aronson, The Law of Evidence in Washington (5th ed. Matthew Bender 2013 & 2025 supp.).
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal) Vol. 11 (5th ed. Thomson Reuters/West 2024) (Maureen Howard, contributing author and editor)
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (Civil) Vols. 6 & 6A (7th ed. Thomson Reuters/West 2022) (contributing author and editor).
Robert H. Aronson & Maureen A. Howard, The Law of Evidence in Washington (5th ed. Matthew Bender Feb. 2013 and 2024 supp.).
Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal) (rev. 4th ed. Thomson Reuters/West, 2018) (Maureen Howard, contributing author and editor).
Maureen A. Howard & James H. Seckinger, State v. O’Neill (6th ed. National Institute for Trial Advocacy 2012). 84 pages.

Professional Publications

Maureen A. Howard, There Is No Summer in the Courtroom, De Novo, Aug. 2012, at 16.
Maureen A. Howard, Want to Be a Better Trial Lawyer? Teach Trial Skills!, De Novo, Apr. 2012, at 24.
Maureen A. Howard, Help: I Need an Expert!, De Novo, Feb. 2012, at 19-20.
Maureen A. Howard, The Asymmetry of Duty in Criminal Trial Practice, De Novo, Dec. 2011, at 10-11.
Maureen A. Howard, Preparing a Client for Deposition? Listen Up!, De Novo, Oct. 2011, at 9-10.
Maureen A. Howard, Surviving (and Thriving) in the First Year of Trial Practice, De Novo, Aug. 2011, at 8-9, reprinted in Wash. St. Bar News, Sept. 2011, at 36-37.
Maureen A. Howard, Taking Better Depositions by Thinking “Outside the Box,” De Novo, June 2011, at 12-13.
Maureen A. Howard, Smooth Courtroom Moves: The Exhibit Dance, De Novo, Apr. 2011, at 7-8.
Maureen A. Howard, Effective Pre-Trial Motions: Persuading the Judge, De Novo, Feb. 2011, at 7-8.
Maureen A. Howard, Playing Nice: The Dos and Don’ts of Courtroom Etiquette, De Novo, Dec. 2010, at 7-8,
Maureen A. Howard, Mastering Foolproof Witness Control on Cross-Examination, De Novo, Oct. 2010, at 9-10.
Maureen A. Howard, Closing Argument: Connecting the Dots for the Jury, De Novo, Aug. 2010, at 8-9.
Maureen A. Howard, Liar! Liar! Impeaching the Witness on Cross-Examination, De Novo, June 2010, at 9-10.
Maureen A. Howard, Direct Examination: Lawyer as Director, De Novo, Apr. 2010, at 11-12.
Maureen Howard, The Prosecutorial Ethic: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility, UWlaw, Spring 2010, at 16-17.
Maureen A. Howard, Laptops in Class: A Professional Virus, The Huffington Post (Mar. 28, 2010, 7:08 PM).
Maureen A. Howard, The Best Prosecutor? Perhaps a Defense Attorney, The Huffington Post (Mar. 17, 2010, 1:20 PM).
Maureen A. Howard, Opening Statement: Persuading Without Argument, De Novo, Feb. 2010, at 8-9.
Maureen Howard, Contributing author and editor, Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (civil) Vol. 6 & 6A (Rev. 3d. ed., Thompson Reuters/West 2009)
Maureen A. Howard, 10 Tips for Getting Jurors to Talk, De Novo, Dec. 2009, at 7-8.
Maureen Howard, Contributing editor, Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (criminal) Vol. 11 & 11A (Rev. 3rd ed., Thompson Reuters/West 2008)
Maureen Howard, "Voir Dire: Winning Hearts and Minds", National Institute of Trial Advocacy (2005).

Other Publications

Maureen Howard, A Proposed System of Regulation in Psychotherapeutic Treatment, U. Wash. Sch. Law (1986).

Speaker, "Documents at Deposition," Munger, Tolles, Olsen (September 20, 2023)
Speaker, "Rethinking Evidence Objections," King County Department of Public Defense (August 29, 2019)
Speaker, "Negotiation Theory, Strategy, and Technique," Washington State Department of Natural Resources (June 25, 2019)
Speaker, "Combating Gender Bias in the Courtroom," Harvard Law School (September 11, 2018)
Speaker, "Evidence, Advocacy & Justice," 24th Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Washington State Bar Association (October 19, 2017)
Speaker, "Effective Expert Testimony," Harvard Law School (September 18, 2017)
Speaker, "Persuasive Motions Practice," Paul Hastings (September 12, 2017)
Speaker, "Bringing Demonstrative Evidence in from the Cold," Excited Utterance: The Evidence and Proof Podcast (August 28, 2017)
Speaker, "Navigating Daubert: Expert Testimony in Federal Court," Emory Law School (May 2, 2017)
Speaker, "Persuading with Big Data," Microsoft International Market Research Retreat, (September 20, 2016)
Speaker, "Combating Gender Bias in the Courtroom," Emory Law School (April 30, 2016)
Speaker, "Making Scientific Evidence Understandable to a Jury," University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences (September 6, 2012)
Speaker, "Direct and Cross-Examination Techniques Using Exhibits and Impeachment," Northwest Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (September 4, 2012)
Speaker, "Persuasively Arguing Motions in Trial Court," Paul Hastings (July 19, 2012)
Speaker, "Defense Lawyers as Co-teachers in a Law School Prosecution Clinic," Ethical Practice in the Criminal Justice System: Finding Common Ground, National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism (June 24, 2012)