The WORST Question You Can Ask in Direct Examination
I’d done it again. I’d asked the witness a stupid question, and now I was paying the price. In fact, I’d asked him one of the worst questions we can ever ask during direct examination. The question wasn’t going to lose the case for me, but it certainly wasn’t going to help my case, either. So, what was this boneheaded question I asked? Here it is: “What happened next?” You’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with that question? I ask it all the...
Read MoreFREE REPORT: How to Successfully Make and Meet Objections
Hey, I put together a FREE 13 page guidebook to help you successfully make and meet objections. Look at some of the tips you’ll discover: 3 guidelines for quickly recognizing objectionable evidence You can object, but should you? Guidelines for determining when you should (or shouldn’t) object 4 tips for making timely objections How to respond when your opponent objects What to do if your opponent’s objection is sustained 2 creative ways for getting your exhibits into evidence Follow the...
Read MoreDon’t Polish a Diamond on the Stand
Don’t gild the lily. When a witness gives you a favorable answer (regardless of whether its during direct examination or cross-examination), be wary of trying to improve upon it. Too many times, attorneys have tried to lock the witness down on a point that they’ve already won, only to have the witness improve upon the answer and cram it down the attorney’s throat. For example, let’s say you represent a man accused of Trafficking in Heroin. The government is alleging that he was part of a conspiracy to...
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