"The New York Times" attributed the victory to Slotnick’s “clever courtroom tactics,” noting that he “turned out to be a shrewder, more accomplished performer than the prosecutor, Gregory Waples.” In particular, Slotnick’s aggressive questioning of James Ramseur, one of the four shot by Goetz, caused Ramseur to react explosively, which resulted in Ramseur’s entire testimony being stricken from the record including negative statements Ramseur made about Goetz.