The Trial Process
Question: What is the first step in a criminal trial?
A) Jury deliberation
B) Opening statements
C) Presentation of evidence
D) Closing arguments
B) Opening statements
Question: Who is typically allowed to testify in court?
A) Only the defendant
B) Only expert witnesses
C) Anyone with relevant knowledge of the case
D) Only police officers
C) Anyone with relevant knowledge of the case
Question: Which of the following can affect a witness’s credibility?
A) Their physical appearance
B) Their prior inconsistent statements
C) The number of witnesses
D) The type of crime involved
B) Their prior inconsistent statements
Question: What is hearsay?
A) Any statement made in court
B) Out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted
C) Any written document presented in court
D) An opinion given by an expert witness
B) Out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted
Question: What does the exclusionary rule prevent?
A) Introduction of unreliable evidence
B) Admission of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights
C) Use of character evidence
D) Admission of expert witness testimony
B) Admission of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights
Question: During which stage of the trial are witnesses typically called to testify?
A) Pre-trial hearings
B) Closing arguments
C) Presentation of evidence
D) Jury instructions
C) Presentation of evidence
Question: What is the term for a witness who provides specialized knowledge to help the jury understand evidence?
A) Lay witness
B) Character witness
C) Expert witness
D) Eyewitness
C) Expert witness
Question: What is impeachment in the context of a trial?
A) Removing a judge from the case
B) Discrediting a witness’s testimony
C) Challenging the admissibility of evidence
D) A formal objection by an attorney
B) Discrediting a witness’s testimony
Question: Which of the following is an exception to the hearsay rule?
A) Statements made to police officers
B) Present sense impression
C) All written documents
D) Character evidence
B) Present sense impression
Question: Which of the following is considered direct evidence?
A) Eyewitness testimony
B) A suspect's fingerprints
C) A written confession
D) Circumstantial evidence
A) Eyewitness testimony
Question: Who decides questions of law during a trial?
A) The jury
B) The judge
C) The prosecutor
D) The defense attorney
B) The judge
Question: Which of the following is NOT a valid ground for impeaching a witness?
A) Showing bias or prejudice
B) Contradicting prior testimony
C) Proving a criminal record unrelated to the case
D) Demonstrating lack of perception or memory
C) Proving a criminal record unrelated to the case
Question: Which method is commonly used to impeach a witness’s credibility?
A) Calling an additional witness
B) Showing prior convictions for dishonesty
C) Presenting new physical evidence
D) Filing a motion to dismiss
B) Showing prior convictions for dishonesty
Question: Under the hearsay rule, which type of statement is generally inadmissible in court?
A) A statement made under oath
B) A confession
C) A spontaneous utterance
D) An out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter
D) An out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter
Question: What is the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence?
A) Direct evidence proves a fact directly, while circumstantial evidence requires inference
B) Circumstantial evidence is more credible
C) Direct evidence must be physical; circumstantial must be testimonial
D) Circumstantial evidence is not allowed in court
A) Direct evidence proves a fact directly, while circumstantial evidence requires inference
Question: What is a "motion for a directed verdict"?
A) A request to dismiss a case before the trial begins
B) A request for the jury to be sequestered
C) A request for the judge to rule in favor of one party without allowing the jury to deliberate
D) A request for a mistrial due to procedural errors
C) A request for the judge to rule in favor of one party without allowing the jury to deliberate
Question: What is "direct examination"?
A) Questioning of a witness by the opposing party
B) Questioning of a witness by the party who called them
C) An expert witness's testimony
D) The jury’s questioning of the witness
B) Questioning of a witness by the party who called them
Under FRE 608(b), which specific act is least likely to be considered probative of a witness’s character for truthfulness?
A. Filing a false tax return
B. Submitting a fake doctor’s note to avoid work
C. Shoplifting merchandise from a store
D. Lying on a loan application
C. Shoplifting merchandise from a store
Question: What is the “dying declaration” exception to the hearsay rule?
A) A statement made by someone who is terminally ill
B) A statement made by a witness in fear of death
C) A statement made by a person believing their death is imminent
D) A statement made by a person after recovering from a serious injury
C) A statement made by a person believing their death is imminent
Question: What is considered "fruit of the poisonous tree" in legal terms?
A) Evidence obtained from a confession
B) Evidence derived from an illegal search or seizure
C) Testimony given under duress
D) Evidence presented by a biased witness
B) Evidence derived from an illegal search or seizure
Under FRE 103(d) and FRE 104(a), the main purpose of a motion in limine is to:
A. Obtain a pretrial ruling on admissibility so the jury won’t hear the evidence unless allowed
B. Force the opponent to disclose all witnesses
C. Automatically preserve appellate error without further objection at trial
D. Decide guilt or liability before trial
A. Obtain a pretrial ruling on admissibility so the jury won’t hear the evidence unless allowed
Under FRE 615, “sequestration” means:
A. Excluding evidence from trial
B. Excluding witnesses from hearing other witnesses’ testimony
C. Excluding the jury during argument
D. Excluding the defendant from the courtroom
B. Excluding witnesses from hearing other witnesses’ testimony
Question: Under which circumstance can a witness's character for truthfulness be attacked?
A) When the witness is a defendant
B) When their credibility has not been questioned
C) Only when character evidence is admissible
D) Whenever the prosecutor requests it
C) Only when character evidence is admissible
Question: Which rule of evidence governs the admission of hearsay in federal court?
A) Federal Rule of Evidence 404
B) Federal Rule of Evidence 701
C) Federal Rule of Evidence 803
D) Federal Rule of Evidence 102
C) Federal Rule of Evidence 803
https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_803
Question: Which type of evidence requires a judge to determine its admissibility based on a balancing test of its probative value against potential prejudice?
A) Hearsay evidence
B) Character evidence
C) Real evidence
D) Circumstantial evidence
B) Character evidence