Objection Scenarios
A police officer testifies, "The neighbor told me that the defendant was always speeding down the street".
What is Hearsay?
What type of questions do you ask on cross?
What are leading questions?
The purpose of direct examination is for an attorney to present this to support their case.
What is evidence?
What is asked and answered?
All of the facts presented at trial that the jury will use to make its decision.
What is evidence?
"What is your favorite color?" (eye-witness testifying on a car accident)
What is relevance?
Where do you stand in a courtroom when conducting a cross-examination?
In the aisle by the back door
This type of question, which suggests the desired answer, is not allowed during direct examination.
What is a leading question?
"Mr. Alex, did you see the traffic light turn red and did you immediately hit your brakes?"
After the closing arguments, this is the period when the jury decides the verdict.
What is deliberation?
"How would you describe the defendant's relationship with their grandparents?" without first establishing how the witness knows the defendant.
What is lack of foundation?
How many questions should you ask on cross-examination?
What is however many?
Since jurors tend to remember the first and last things they hear, a lawyer should use the final questions to do this.
What is end on a strong point?
"How can you sit here and lie to the court about your attitude toward the victim?".
What is argumentative?
A question that is not allowed because it calls for a guess from a witness who has no personal knowledge of the matter.
What is speculation?
A witness testifies, "I think the defendant was in a crazed state of mind" (witness's profession: Cashew Farmer)
What is improper opinion?
This is the primary goal of cross-examination when questioning an opponent's witness.
What is to challenge or cast doubt on their testimony?
An attorney does this before presenting a significant piece of evidence, like a document or photo, to ensure its authenticity.
What is laying the foundation?
"Just tell us what happened on the day of the incident."
What is narration?
The purpose of redirect examination.
What is clarifying points made during cross-examination?
"Why do you think he stole the money?"
What is speculation or lack of personal knowledge?
This is why an attorney might question a witness about their relationship with the opposing party.
What is to show witness bias?
This common practice involves repeating part of a witness's answer in the next question to reinforce the point.
What is looping?
Before proving there was a weapon, the attorney asks, "You took the weapon out of your pocket, didn't you?".
What is assumes facts not in evidence?
This is a court order that requires someone to appear in court or produce documents.
What is a subpoena?