You Can't Say That!
If council believes that a witness' testimony does not have any tendency to make a fact that is important to the case more or less probably that that fact would be without the evidence, the council can raise this objection
What is "Relevance?"
If an attorney asks a question that suggests the answer desired, opposing council can raise this objection
What is "Leading Questions?"
The party opposing the evidence uses this term to try to keep inadmissible testimony, or testimony harmful to their case, from being admitted
What is an "objection?"
This term describes certain types of hearsay that may be admissable
What are "hearsay exceptions?"
When asked a yes or no question, council should phrase their response in this way
What is either "yes, your honor" or "no, your honor?"
When a witness creates a material fact not included in his or her official record council can raise this objection
What is an "Unfair Extrapolation?"
If during the redirect examination of a witness an attorney asks questions beyond the issues raised on cross-examination, opposing council may raise this objection
What is "Outside the Scope of Cross-Examination?"
This specific question is asked when council would like to approach the witness
What is "May I approach the witness?"
When addressing the court, council should hold this posture
What is "standing?"
If a witness begins to testify about any matter of which they have no personal knowledge, council may raise this objection
What is "Personal Knowledge/Speculation?"
The objection phrasing "Objection, your honor. Improper lay witness opinion" is only relevant to this type of witness
What is a "non-expert witness?"
This question is asked when council would like to approach the evidence
What is "May I enter the well?"
This hearsay exception allows for the witness to share a statement that is evidence of a person's general reputation with reference to his or her character or a trait of his or her character
What is the "Reputation of a person's character in the community" hearsay exception?
This term means an objection has been granted by the presiding judge
What is "sustained?"
This objection can be raised when a witness testifies of a statement that was made other than by the witness while testifying at trial that is offered to prove the truth of the matter stated
What is "hearsay?"
The objection phrasing "Objection, your honor. There is a lack of foundation for this opinion testimony" is only relevant to this type of witness
What is an "expert witness?"
This is the appropriate place to point out that a witness was impeached
What is "during the closing argument?"
This type of hearsay exception is a statement that describes or explains an event perceived by the declarant, made during or after a startling event, while the declarant is still under the stress of excitement caused by the event
What is an "excited utterance" hearsay exception?
This term means an objection has not been granted by the presiding judge
What is "overruled?"
If a witness begins to "tell a story" council can raise this objection
What is "narrative?"
If council thinks that a proper foundation has not been established prior to a particular question being asked to the witness, council should object using this phrase
What is "Objection, your honor. There is a lack of foundation?"
In a criminal case, the prosecution bears the burden of using evidence to prove that the defendant is guilty beyond this
What is "beyond a reasonable doubt?"
This type of hearsay exception refers to writings made as a record or an act or event by a business or governmental agency
What is the "records made in the regular course of business" hearsay exception?
When counsel would like to further explain the basis of their objection, they may ask this question immediately after voicing their objection
What is "May I be heard?"