“…There is ample theoretical and empirical evidence that suggests the strategic manipulation of linguistic complexity can be beneficial for success (e.g., Conway et al, 2012;Repke et al, 2018;Suedfeld & Rank, 1976;Tetlock, 1981;Thoemmes & Conway, 2007). However, although integrative complexity research examines expansive topics ranging from political speeches (e.g., Conway et al, 2012;Conway & Zubrod, 2020;Houck & Conway, 2019) to terrorism (e.g., Houck et al, 2017;Putra et al, 2018), no integrative complexity research that we know of has examined attorneys' linguistic style during trials (although, as discussed earlier, some work has examined Supreme Court judges, Gruenfeld, 1995;Gruenfeld & Preston, 2000;Hansford & Coe, 2019;Owens & Wedeking, 2011;Tetlock et al, 1985). As a result of this lack of research on attorney courtroom language complexity, we had no certain predictions entering the study.…”