Difference between revisions of "Cross-Examination"

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Cross-examinations are not supposed to be cross.  Your job as the attorney is to persuade the fact finder that a particular aspect of the witness' testimony is wrong.  Being rude or too adversarial is not the best way to persuade.  Only become aggressive when necessary, for instance, if the witness' is non-responsive or has a clear motive.  Remember you should constantly be thinking about the best way to persuade the fact finder to believe your theory of the case.
 
Cross-examinations are not supposed to be cross.  Your job as the attorney is to persuade the fact finder that a particular aspect of the witness' testimony is wrong.  Being rude or too adversarial is not the best way to persuade.  Only become aggressive when necessary, for instance, if the witness' is non-responsive or has a clear motive.  Remember you should constantly be thinking about the best way to persuade the fact finder to believe your theory of the case.
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Every question should fulfill a substantive, technical or emotional role:   
 
Every question should fulfill a substantive, technical or emotional role:   

Revision as of 13:44, 17 June 2010