So whether you’re concerned about wrongful convictions, fascinated by courtroom strategy, or just curious about how the law really works, join Troy and me for an honest, practical look at how much “say so” is really enough to change a person’s life.

Welcome back to Lawyer Talk. I’m Steve Palmer, and in this episode, I’m joined by Troy to dig into a question that comes up all the time, both in the courtroom and in the court of public opinion:

Can someone really be convicted on another person's word alone?

We kick things off by exploring real-world scenarios where convictions happen with nothing more than a single person’s say-so—cases I’ve defended, like child sex abuse allegations, where there’s no physical evidence or eyewitnesses, just the testimony of an alleged victim.

We don’t shy away from controversy; instead, we get right to the heart of why this happens, how common it is, and what it means for those accused.

On the flip side, I break down the “corpus delicti” rule—why your own confession can’t always put you behind bars unless there’s at least a shred of independent evidence that a crime actually occurred. We talk about what counts as enough supporting proof, and why these legal rules exist in the first place.

For those thinking about going to law school, I get into the nuts and bolts of what you really need to do to prep—like learning Latin, reading the news, and, above all, building up your reading stamina for the mountain of case law ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• Convictions on Accusation Alone: It’s more common than you think for convictions to rely solely on an accuser’s testimony, especially in child abuse cases where physical evidence is lacking. Society’s standards often shift depending on the nature of the allegations.
• The Corpus Delicti Rule: In Ohio and many jurisdictions, a defendant’s confession alone is not enough for prosecution. There must be independent evidence that a crime actually occurred, though the amount of evidence needed is surprisingly minimal.
• Prepping Future Lawyers: Understanding legal Latin and developing strong reading habits are foundational for aspiring attorneys. Legal study is as much about language and context as it is about facts.

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Call 614-859-2119 and leave us a voicemail. Steve will answer your question on the next podcast!

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high-publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2026 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com