What is it called when an attorney asks questions of the other attorney's witness?

Asked by: Wanda Corwin  |  Last update: January 12, 2026
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cross-examine - Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.

What is it called when an attorney asks questions of the other attorneys witness?

Cross-Examination

Questions which a lawyer asks the opposing party or witness to test whether the person is telling the truth.

What is questioning the credibility of witnesses called?

Cross-examination gives the opposing party an opportunity to point out the weaknesses of a witness's testimony , like holes in their story or a lack of credibility .

What are attorneys may submit written questions to be answered by the opposing party called?

Interrogatories. Interrogatories are one form of discovery in a lawsuit. An interrogatory is a written question from one party to the lawsuit to another party to the lawsuit (usually, the opposing party). Interrogatories are a way to obtain information from the opposing party that may be useful in the lawsuit.

Can an attorney ask leading questions to a witness in direct examination?

The comment to Section 767(a) also allows leading questions on direct examination for “refreshing recollection, and examining handicapped witnesses, expert witnesses, and hostile witnesses.” When calling an expert, then, the California evidence rules do not require that a lawyer refrain from asking leading questions.

Attorney Asks a Bad Question. Can Witness Correct Him During Cross-Examination? NY Lawyer Explains

37 related questions found

What is the rule 611?

Rule 611(c) of the Federal Rules of Evidence, lists the situations in which leading questions are appropriate, which include on cross-examination, when dealing with preliminary matters, when there is difficulty eliciting testimony from a witness, and when a hostile or adverse witness is being questioned.

What is speculation objection?

First, if a witness does not know a fact to be true or not, but testifies about it anyway, this testimony would be objectionable as speculation. A witness must have personal knowledge of a fact to testify about that fact and put it into the court record.

How do you know if your lawyer is selling you out?

How Can You Tell If Your Lawyer Is Selling You Out?
  • They Regularly Miss Deadlines and Appointments. ...
  • They Show a Lack of Interest in Your Case. ...
  • They Are Pushing You Too Quickly or Forcefully to Settle. ...
  • They Fail to Return or Answer Your Calls. ...
  • They're not Transparent in Billing and Payment Practices.

What is the examination through questioning of a witness called by the opposing side?

Cross examination is questioning an opponent's witness at a trial or at a hearing. The opposing sides in a trial or a hearing have the opportunity to cross examine each other's witnesses after the witness's direct examination.

What is adverse party in legal terms?

An adverse party is the other side of a lawsuit, the opposite party , one with opposing interests. If there are numerous parties and claims , parties may be in agreement on some matters and adverse on some issues. For example, the adverse party for a defendant is the plaintiff .

What is the word for questioning a witness?

examination. n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. Direct examination is interrogation by the attorney who called the witness, and cross-examination is questioning by the opposing attorney.

What is the rule 607?

Three Government attorneys discuss Federal Rules 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, and 613 pertaining to witnesses and suggest how prosecuting attorneys can apply them during cross-examination. Rule 607 asserts that a witness's credibility can be attacked by any party, including the party calling the witness.

How do lawyers discredit witnesses?

Lawyers may also introduce outside ("extrinsic") evidence that isn't directly related to the case but is relevant to a witness's credibility, such as documents showing the witness's financial interest in the outcome of the case, social media posts showing that the witness is friends with the defendant, or the witness's ...

What is it called when a lawyer requests information?

You use discovery to get information or evidence from the other side in a lawsuit that will help you make your case. In order to get the information you need, you must make a request using a specific procedure and written format, within a specific timeframe.

What is a cross-examination question?

The purpose of cross-examination is to create doubt about the truthfulness of the witness's testimony, especially as it applies to the incidents that are at issue in the case. Cross-examination questions are usually the opposite of direct examination questions.

What questions cannot be asked in a deposition?

In many cases, questions that do not have to be answered fall into three categories:
  • Private information. You have a right to refuse any questions about a person's health, sexuality, or religious beliefs (including your own). ...
  • Privileged information. ...
  • Irrelevant information.

What is it called when lawyers ask questions before trial?

You might also question a witness. You'll want the witness to tell the court what they know, but the only way you can get information out of a witness is by asking questions in specific ways that follow court rules. This is called direct examination.

What is questioning a witness already questioned by the opposing side?

If you need to ask questions beyond the topics of the other side's direct examination, you need to call the witness as your own witness. Then you do your direct examination. If you need to question the witness beyond the scope of direct examination, let the judge know.

What is questioning of a witness by anyone other than the party who called the witness?

CROSS-EXAMINATION. Cross-examination of witnesses called by the opposing party is an absolute right in both civil and criminal cases.

How to tell if your lawyer is working against you?

If you feel that your lawyer is not keeping you informed about your case, is avoiding your calls or emails, or is not providing satisfactory explanations for their actions, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Review Your Case: Educate yourself about the details of your case and the legal proceedings involved.

Can a lawyer drop a client if they know is guilty?

Can lawyers refuse to defend someone? Yes, under certain circumstances, lawyers have the right to decline representation, including conflicts of interest, lack of expertise, or personal beliefs. However, they cannot deny representation based on whether the client is guilty or innocent.

How do you know if a lawyer is scamming you?

For example, the State Bar of California has an Attorney Search page where you can insert an individual's name or State Bar Number to see if they really are licensed. You can also call your state Bar directly and verify that an individual has a license.

What are the three types of objection?

With documentary and testimonial evidence being differentiated, and lay from expert testimony, the blog focuses on what is by far the three (3) most common trial objections made in response to lay testimony: Hearsay, Leading and Relevancy.

What is badgering the witness?

Definition: Badgering the witness is when a lawyer asks a witness too many questions that are argumentative, rude, or repetitive during cross-examination. This can be distracting and prevent the witness from giving accurate information.

What is an example of prejudicial evidence?

Real-Life Example

Consider a criminal trial where the prosecution wants to introduce evidence that the defendant has a prior criminal record. While this evidence may be relevant to the case, it could unduly influence the jury to convict the defendant based on their past rather than the facts of the current case.