The Trial as Performance: Storytelling, Character, and Presence in the Courtroom

John Rushing | Rushing McCarl LLP

John Rushing is a premier trial attorney and oral advocate who, as the leader of Rushing McCarl’s trial team, has secured multimillion-dollar jury verdicts in several state and federal jury trials since co-founding the firm in 2020. These victories included wins in contract and partnership disputes brought for California businesses, including a unanimous $17.8 million jury verdict won for a large manufacturer. Mr. Rushing was named Super Lawyers in 2025.

With a decade of experience in the entertainment industry as an actor and producer, Mr. Rushing has a sense of stage presence and a gift for narrative, allowing him to connect with juries on a human level.

Mr. Rushing began his career as a litigator at Sidley Austin LLP, where he was a member of one of the nation’s premier products liability practice groups and handled complex cases relating to pharmaceutical products, medical devices, environmental injuries, and insurance coverage. After many years at Sidley, Mr. Rushing became a plaintiff’s attorney focusing on protecting individuals hurt by nursing home negligence and medical malpractice.

After almost a decade in legal practice, Mr. Rushing shifted his focus to the entertainment sector, where he worked as a film producer and virtual reality entrepreneur. His experience as a litigator and startup founder allows him to bring comprehensive legal insights to companies and individuals seeking aggressive representation.

Mr. Rushing earned his J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as a staff member for The Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. While in Texas, Mr. Rushing served as a teaching assistant on a graduate-level course on public policy. Mr. Rushing also earned his M.A. in Scholastic Theology (Medieval Philosophy) and Modern Theology from the University of Oxford as well as a B.A. with Honors in Philosophy from Calvin College.

Mr. Rushing is a competitive sailor and has crewed a Transpac, rounded Cape Horn, sailed to Antarctica, and been a member of the U.S. 11-meter sailing team.

Jim Jarrett | The Meisner Technique Studio

Jim Jarrett is the last teaching protégé of the legendary Sanford Meisner—one of the most influential acting teachers in history.

For over fifty years, Meisner served as the Director of Acting at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he developed what is now universally known as The Meisner Technique. His groundbreaking approach to acting shaped generations of iconic performers, including Gregory Peck, Geraldine Page, Grace Kelly, Joanne Woodward, Robert Duvall, Steve McQueen, Diane Keaton, James Woods, John Cassavettes, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Peter Falk, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, Susan Sarandon, Sydney Pollack, David Mamet, Jon Voight, Jeff Bridges, and countless other whom credit Meisner with transforming their craft and careers.

In the final decade of Meisner’s life, he personally selected and mentored Jim Jarrett to carry forward his teaching legacy. Today, more than 30 years later, Jarrett is widely regarded as one of the most respected acting teachers in the world. Through The Meisner Technique Studio, with locations in San Francisco, Hawaii, and Sun Valley, Idaho, Jarrett has trained thousands of actors to command any room with emotional truth, freedom, and—above all—authenticity. themeisnertechniquestudio.com

In 2007, Jarrett was signed by the William Morris Agency (now WME) as both an actor and teacher. His reputation for cultivating authentic, powerful performances quickly extended beyond actors. Soon, he was coaching WME’s top-tier talent—from athletes and musicians to CEOs, lawyers, politicians, and even Presidential candidates—on how to connect, move, and inspire through storytelling and presence.

Today, Jim Jarrett continues his mission with passion and integrity: to teach people how to be more human in a world that desperately needs it—whether on stage, on camera, or in front of any audience that matters.

I. Trial and theater are both a test of character | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. The power of story is the power to convince | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. Presence and authenticity equal emotional truth | 2:10pm – 2:40pm

IV. Preparation is not optional | 2:40pm – 3:10pm