Direct/Cross Examination
A question that suggests the answer and often suggests a "yes" or "no" answer.
(What is) a leading question?
-- See Rule 611 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence pages 62-63
Example video: https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/hsmt-training-videos/hsmt-leading-questions/
This person instructs everyone to rise for the entry of the judge and swears in the witnesses.
(Who is) the bailiff.
--See Rule 603 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence (dealing with the oath or affirmation witnesses are required to declare)
Bailiff Script: https://www.scbar.org/media/filer_public/cd/d9/cdd9e8e1-e858-4cd5-9263-86db7be40368/bailiffscript.pdf
This person provides evidence in the case in the form of testimony.
(What is) a witness?
See DEFINITIONS for "witness"
How you should address a judge in court.
(What is) "Your Honor"?
See PROCEDURES FOR OBJECTIONS on page 75 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence
In the movie "A Few Good Men" the actor Jack Nicholson shouts to the actor Tom Cruise: "you can't handle" this.
(What is) the truth.
- "A Few Good Men" (1992), fictional Marine Col. Jessup as a witness famously (and oft quoted) shouts: "You want answers?! (Lt. Kaffee shouts back "I want the truth!") You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls are guarded by men with guns. . . . "
"The light was red, was it not?" is this type of question.
(What is) a leading question.
-- See Rule 611 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence
Costumes and props.
(What are) things not allowed in competition?
--See Rule 4.9 of the Rules of Competition
The type of evidence from a witness who actually saw, heard, or touched the subject of the interrogation.
(What is) direct evidence?
See DEFINITIONS
The types of evidence that can be used to prove a case or a defense.
(What are) both direct and circumstantial evidence?
See definitions for DIRECT and CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE and EVIDENCE in Mock Trial Definition document
An attorney questioning his or her own witnesses will always begin with these types of questions.
(What are) direct or non-leading or open ended questions.
-- See Rule 611 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence
Video examples - https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/hsmt-training-videos/hsmt-direct-questioning/
This party sits closest to the jury box in a courtroom.
(Who is) the prosecution/plaintiff or the party with the burden of proof.
Courtroom Diagram:
This is the burden of proof in a criminal case.
(What is) beyond a reasonable doubt.
-- See definition for "Beyond a reasonable doubt" and "burden of proof" in the glossary of legal related terms
https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/law-related-education-glossary/#B
How you handle a witness who has testified incorrectly or dishonestly about something on the stand.
(What is) impeaching the witness?
--See Rule 607 of the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence
VIDEO Examples:
https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/hsmt-training-videos/hsmt-impeaching-witness-1/
https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/hsmt-training-videos/hsmt-impeaching-witness-2/
Not always, but traditionally, a witness on the stand will have to answer both of these types of questions.
(What are) direct and cross-examination questions or leading and non-leading/open ended questions.
-- See Rule 611 of the Mock Trial Evidence Rules
During competition, no communication is allowed between these two groups.
(Who are) students "inside the bar" and anyone "outside the bar" (or "student competing" and "anyone not competing, to include other students, parents, teachers, and coaches"). "Timekeepers" and "Students competing" is also an acceptable answer.
--See Rule 4.10 and Rule 4.5 of Rules of Competition
The witness heard the sound of glass breaking and when the witness turned the corner, the witness saw the defendant standing by a broken car window holding a tire iron.
(What is) an example of circumstantial evidence?
See definition for "circumstantial evidence" in MOCK TRIAL DEFINITIONS
The prosecutor has the burden of proof to prove each one of these beyond a reasonable doubt.
(What are) the elements of the crime for which the defendant is charged.
--See the definition for ELEMENTS OF A CRIME in the glossary of legal terms -
https://www.scbar.org/public/students-educators/law-related-education-glossary/#E
Mock trial will help all of you with this skill set.
(What is) public speaking, logic, memorization, acting, team work, fun, confidence, objections, courtroom protocol, excellent and outdated movie quotes