Direct Questions
"You went to your mom's house later that night, didn't you?"
Objection: Leading Question
“At 8 pm that day, you were at the deli, correct?”
No objection - leading questions can be asking in cross questioning
Who can give their opinion at trial?
Experts
What should you do if you want to object to a questions asked by the opposing counsel?
Stand up, wait to be addressed by the judge, then state your objection
In a murder case, the attorney ask the defendant "what is your favorite movie?"
Objection: Relevance
Did you determine the time of death by interviewing witnesses and by requesting the autopsy report written by the coroner?
Objection: Compound Question
Who are often called to give opinions in a trial?
Doctors, psychologists, forensic experts, etc.
What is the decision of the judge if they disagree with the objection?
Objection overruled
When an attorney yells at a witness
Objection: Badgering
"Did you stop at the stop sign on 5th and Main?"
-no-
"So, to be clear, you did not see the stop sign?"
Objection: Asked & Answered
What are opinion questions that can be asked to anyone that are not objectionable?
Questions asking an opinion that anyone could give
What does the Judge say when they agree with the objection?
Objection sustained
“What do you think your sister was thinking when she left?”
Objection: Speculation
“Did you see what happened?”
Objection: Vague Question
What are questions that are used to establish the expertise of a witness?
Foundation questions
What do you do if you disagree with the Judge's ruling on your objection?
Sit down.
“What did you see at the Broadway diner?” (No previous question asking about witnesses location, position, etc.)
Objection: Question Lacks Foundation
"Wasn’t it careless to leave such dangerous item in such a public, easily accessible location?"
Objection: Argumentative Question
What is a question that an expert witness cannot be asked?
Questions asking: "Do you think the defendant committed the murder?"
What do you do if your question is objected to, and the Judge sustains the objection?
Ask a different question