Trial Basics
For a jury trial, this is the trier of fact.
What is the jury?
This is the phase when both sides question potential jurors in an attempt to identify improper bias or partiality.
What is voir dire?
This type of examination is best suited to eliciting evidence of bias, withheld facts, a bad reputation, or lack of personal knowledge.
What is cross examination?
This is an improper reason to strike a juror.
What is: race, ethnicity, gender (Batson).
In a bench trial, this is the trier of fact.
What is a judge?
This is the point in the trial when you can make a legal argument about how the trier of fact shoul dinterpret the evidence and rule for your client.
What is closing arguments?
This is the appropriate scope of a redirect examination.
What is the scope of cross?
A'meia is suing Michael for hitting her parked car. A'meia's lawyer asks Michael: "Have you been unfaithful to your wife?"
This is what Michael's lawyer's objection.
What is-- objection, relevance? (harassment?)
This is a person who can give specialized testimony to help the trier of fact decide what to do with the evidence presented.
What is an expert witness?
This is the process of sharing information and evidence before trial.
What is discovery?
What is "with a yes or a no"?
Myleen is accused of a robbery that happened while she was at school. Her lawyer asks "You were at school the morning of November 30th, isn't that correct?"
This is the other side's objection.
What is "leading question"?
In civil cases, this is who usually has the burden of proof.
What is the plaintiff?
This is the word for when a party tries to discredit a witness.
What is impeachment?
This is the appropriate scope of a recross examination.
What is the scope of redirect?
Sammie has never seen Hannah with her baby. But in response to her lawyer's questions on direct, she says "Hannah has a baby, and she's a terrible mother."
This is Hannah's lawyer's objection.
What is lack of personal knowledge?
This is the burden of proof in civil cases.
What is "preponderance of the evidence"?
This is the outcome of the trial of a plaintiff can show that only 51% of the evidence supports their side of the story.
What is a verdict for plaintiff? (Preponderance of the evidence only means more likely than not.)
Elise is in a car accident and sues the other driver, Lance, for medical expenses related to her injuries. This is what her lawyer asks about during direct. Lance's lawyer says: "How much did it cost to repair your car?"
This is Lance's lawyer's objection.
What is--- objection, beyond the scope of direct examination.
This is Milan's attorney's objection.
What is hearsay?