How do wrongful convictions really occur? How does opposing counsel have such different views of a case? And why does the truth sometimes seem so difficult to distill? Often the answer is cognitive biases. This engaging Pre-Law Day Keynote will be presented by Attorneys Sonya Pfeiffer BSJ '95 and David Rudolf, who will use a real-life case study from the trial of Michael Peterson (documented in "The Staircase" on Netflix) to demonstrate how cognitive biases play out in a complex and high-profile trial. Pfeiffer and Rudolf are a passionate, experienced husband and wife team who have secured large verdicts and settlements in high-stakes civil litigation and represented business executives, professionals, athletes, and politicians in some of the most high-profile federal and state criminal investigations and prosecutions in the United States, including Rudolf's representation of Peterson. Before becoming a lawyer, and for more than a decade, Pfeiffer was a TV journalist internationally and in several markets across the country. Among the cases she covered was the Peterson case.

Pfeiffer and Rudolf will take a deep dive into how we subconsciously organize patterns in our complex, information-filled world, allowing us to be efficient and make rapid decisions with little mental effort. Relying on these “mental shortcuts” has the potential to skew or undermine our ability to evaluate, interpret, judge, use, and remember information, as well as how we make decisions. The tendency of the human brain to perceive information through a filter of personal experience and preferences impacts how we handle cases and opposing litigants, as well as our understanding of each other and ourselves. It has a direct correlation to how we categorize right and wrong, good facts and bad facts, friend or foe. This keynote zeroes in on how unconscious bias affects decision-making for all of us – including attorneys, investigators and journalists. As cognitive biases affect our ability to see the facts objectively, an understanding of this topic is critical in the context of ethical dilemmas where emotions may run high and cloud judgment, leading to impulsive decisions.

Together, Pfeiffer and Rudolf have dedicated their lives to thorough, fearless advocacy. In addition to their legal practice, the couple also co-hosts the Webby award-winning podcast on Audible "Abuse of Power."  This unique and fascinating presentation will appeal to lawyers in all practice areas, journalists, and  those simply interested  going behind the scenes of the Peterson case.

The Pre-Law Day Keynote will take place on February 26, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the Athena Cinema. It is open to all members of the community.

Pre-Law Day is a two-day event designed to give Ohio University students an in-depth look at law school and careers in the legal profession. The program offers valuable opportunities to build professional networking skills while honoring the achievements of Ohio University alumni and students who are a part of the pre-law community.

The Pre-Law Day Keynote will be followed by panels, roundtables, and networking opportunities on Friday, Feb. 27, on the second floor of Baker Center.

This year's Pre-Law Day is co-sponsored by the Center for Law, Justice & Culture, the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, the Honors Tutorial College, and the Ohio University Alumni Association.