Common Objections
On direct: "You saw the defendant kill the victim, right?"
What is leading?
This alerts the judge to your issue.
What is an objection?
A person who does not have specialized expertise.
What is a lay witness?
The default constitutional provision that applies to all evidence issues.
What is due process?
When the State is eliciting the same information they already have.
What is cumulative?
"Did you go to scene and was it after Det. Smith?"
What is compound question?
What you say after "objection."
What is why you are objecting?
Someone who has scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge.
What is an expert witness?
This is commonly, but not always, an objection along side hearsay.
What is the Confrontation Clause?
"Tell me what happened."
What is calls for a narrative?
"What's your favorite color, Detective?"
This is your physical position when you argue your objection.
What is standing up?
Opinions or inferences that are rationally based on the perception of the witness and helpful to a clear understanding of either the witnesses' testimony or the determination of a fact at issue.
What is an allowable lay witness opinion?
This is necessary to add to an objection to preserve the issue for appeal.
What is the specific basis of the objection?
"And did the lease name a lease holder?"
What is best evidence?
"And what did Officer Smith tell you about the interview he conducted?"
What is hearsay?
This is what you do when you disagree with the judge's ruling on your objection.
What is sit down?
What must happen for an expert to testify to an opinion.
What is be deemed qualified by the court?
This is what you do when the judge does not rule on your objection, but says something like "move along, counselor."
What is continue to request a ruling?
For example, when a witness is unable to remember what they saw.
What is competency to testify?
"As the sister of the victim, why do you think she tried to call 911?"
What is speculation?
This can follow the sustaining of an objection when the answer to the objectionable question came out prior to the objection.
What is a motion to strike?
What an expert cannot opine on.
What is the ultimate issue?
This is what you do when you have lost a pretrial motion in limine and the State elicits the subject of that MIL.
What is renew the objection?
The ability to prevent a witness from testifying about what the defendant said because of their relationship with the defendant.
What is privilege?