Redirect examination of Dr. Donald Dutton (part 2)

📄 Redirect examination of Dr. Donald Dutton (part 2) — Thursday, January 12, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JAN\12\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DR-DON.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 2 of 167

◀ Cross-examination of Dr. Donald Dutton (part 2) Prosecutor's argument on domestic violence evidence ▶

Witness: Dr. Donald Dutton
Examiner: Scott Gordon
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Thursday, January 12, 1995 • Utterances: 15

Scott Gordon conducted a brief redirect examination of Dr. Button to rehabilitate the witness after F. Lee Bailey's cross-examination. Gordon asked the witness to address Bailey's characterization of battered women as 'weak' and to explain the concept of traumatic bonding — why victims return to their abusers — which Dr. Button explained through her own published research.

# 1 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 2 MR. GORDON:

PROMISE JUST A COUPLE.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 3

BY MR. GORDON:

# 4 Q:

YOU HEARD MR. BAILEY USE THE TERM "A WEAK WOMAN." BECAUSE A WOMAN IS A VICTIM OF BATTERING, DOES THAT MEAN SHE IS WEAK?

# 5 A:

NO, NOT AT ALL.

# 6 Q:

ARE YOU FAMILIAR -- YOU HEARD ABOUT -- SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT A WOMAN RETURNING BACK AND GOING BACK TO THE BATTERER. ARE YOU FAMILIAR -- I SAID A COUPLE. ARE YOU FAMILIAR -- ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ANY STUDIES THAT TALK ABOUT THE EFFECT UPON A WOMAN UPON HER ATTACHMENT OR HER BONDING TO A MAN WHEN SHE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO UNPREDICTABLE OR INTIMATE VIOLENCE?

# 7 A:

I WROTE THREE OF THEM.

KEY QUOTE

# 8 Q:

DOES IT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ATTACHMENT?

# 9 A:

YES.

# 10 Q:

WHAT IS THAT?

# 11 A:

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS WITH BATTERED WOMEN IS THAT IS SOMETHING CALLED TRAUMATIC BONDING WHICH IS A KIND OF PECULIAR PROCESS, BUT BASICALLY IT WORKS LIKE THIS: WE GET ATTACHED TO PEOPLE WHO INTERMITTENTLY TREAT US WELL, BADLY, WELL, BADLY, WHERE THERE IS POSITIVE-NEGATIVE REPEATED BEHAVIOR. ONE OF THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC BONDING IS THAT WITH TIME AWAY FROM THE ABUSER A WOMAN FORGETS THE NEGATIVE STUFF AND REMEMBERS WHAT WAS GOOD ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP. I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN WITHIN A WEEK, BUT IT CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LONGER TIME PERIOD.

# 12 MR. GORDON:

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

# 13 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MR. BAILEY, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

# 14 MR. BAILEY:

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

# 15 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DR. BUTTON, YOU CAN STEP DOWN. THANK YOU, SIR.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Dr. Button

I WROTE THREE OF THEM.

In response to being asked if she was familiar with studies on the subject, the witness revealed she herself authored three such studies — a powerful credibility moment undercutting any implication that her views were secondhand or fringe.

Dr. Button

WE GET ATTACHED TO PEOPLE WHO INTERMITTENTLY TREAT US WELL, BADLY, WELL, BADLY, WHERE THERE IS POSITIVE-NEGATIVE REPEATED BEHAVIOR. ONE OF THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC BONDING IS THAT WITH TIME AWAY FROM THE ABUSER A WOMAN FORGETS THE NEGATIVE STUFF AND REMEMBERS WHAT WAS GOOD ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP.

Directly counters the defense implication that Nicole's returns to OJ were evidence the abuse wasn't serious or that she was complicit — reframing it as a documented psychological phenomenon.

Dr. Button

NO, NOT AT ALL.

Clean, unambiguous rebuttal to Bailey's 'weak woman' framing — short but effective rehabilitation.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Scott Gordon•Dr. Button

Gordon used the redirect to let the witness reframe Bailey's 'weak woman' characterization and introduce the concept of traumatic bonding — allowing Dr. Button to explain on her own terms why victims return to abusers.

strategic

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 4382 • 15 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103