leading questions may be asked by a lawyer during which type of trial testimony?

by Franco Reichel 6 min read

When a lawyer calls an adverse or hostile witness (a witness whose relationship to the lawyer's client is such that his testimony is likely to be prejudicial) on direct examination, the lawyer can ask leading questions as on cross-examination.Sep 9, 2019

What is a leading question in a witness testimony?

Leading questions are against federal rules. A leading question can entice an objection or formal protest that will disallow a witness’ testimony. Say This: What did you observe?” This non-leading, open-ended question encourages a witness to provide exact details about what they’ve seen.

When is a lawyer entitled to use leading questions?

For example, during cross-examination, the lawyer is entitled to use leading questions, a huge advantage. Leading questions, as the term suggests, permit the lawyer to “lead” the witness where he wants to go.

Are the phases of trial performance easier for lawyers to conduct?

Those phases of trial performance, however, are arguably easier for the lawyer to conduct for one simple reason: The lawyer is less “shackled” by courtroom rules or mechanics. For example, during cross-examination, the lawyer is entitled to use leading questions, a huge advantage.

How do trial attorneys question witnesses on the stand?

Learn more about how trial attorneys question witnesses on the stand. The presentation of evidence at trial begins when the attorney for the "plaintiff" (the person suing) begins calling witnesses. The plaintiff's attorney does the initial questioning of the witness, which is called direct examination.

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What are leading questions and when can you use them in court?

As indicated by the term, a leading question is one that leads a witness to an answer, by either suggesting the answer or by substituting the words of the questioning attorney for those of the witness.

Should leading questions be asked during a witness statement?

MRE 611(d) Leading Questions. (1) Leading questions should not be used on the direct examina- tion of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness' testimony. (2) Ordinarily leading questions should be permitted on cross- examination.

What is a leading question in a deposition?

Leading questions are only allowed in depositions when everyone agrees that they may occur. A question is said to be “leading” if it suggests the answer or contains the information that the witness needs to make an accurate response.

What is a leading question mock trial?

As a general rule, witnesses may not be asked leading questions by the direct examiner (the attorney who calls them testify). A leading question is one that suggests the answer you want, and often requires a "yes" or "no." Direct questions generally should be phrased o evoke a set of facts from the witness.

What are leading questions questions?

A leading question is a type of question that prompts a respondent towards providing an already-determined answer. This type of question is suggestive as it is framed in such a way that it implies or points to its answer(s).

Which of the following is a leading question?

A leading question suggests a particular answer that the questioner desires – most often a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. ∎ “Were you in Los Angeles last week?” ∎ You were in Los Angeles last week, weren't you? ∎ You didn't see the stop sign, did you?

What does it mean when a lawyer says leading?

Leading questions are those put to a witness in court by a lawyer. They have a very specific role and are only allowed at certain stages of a trial. When a lawyer or someone else suggests answers to the witness in the form of a question, that is called leading the witness.

How do you ask a leading question?

One way of influencing a person is to ask them questions that are deliberately designed to make them think in a certain way. Leading questions either include the answer, point the listener in the right direction or include some form or carrot or stick to send them to the 'right' answer.

What is leading evidence?

To put it simply, leading / giving evidence means, proving the existence or the non existence of material facts, by the means of oral testimony and by the means of documentary evidence. Evidence can be defined as any material which tends to persuade the court of the truth or probability of a fact asserted before it.

Can a judge ask leading questions?

In the trial game, the parties have the right to ask questions, but so do judges. Depending on the procedure, the judges may have the right to take the lead, leaving the prosecution and the defence to mop up.

Can leading questions be asked in cross-examination?

Leading questions cannot be asked in examination-in-chief, cross-examination, or re-examination only if objected by the other party. Such questions may be asked if the other party does not object.

Can you ask leading questions in re examination?

This way, the witness is the one providing the evidence to the enquiry. For this reason, it is not appropriate to ask leading questions. A leading question is a question that presume a particular answer.

What is a leading question?

At its most basic level, a leading question is one that directs a witness toward a particular conclusion, by way of being overly suggestive.

Why is eyewitness testimony so unreliable?

Eyewitness testimony is often unreliable, as it is prone to unclear recollections, false memories, and personal subjectivity. Simply mentioning a quality or value that differs from the actuality of what occurred can cause a witness to provide false information, often without even realizing it.

What is a "you told Jennifer that you would have her order completed by Friday didn't you" question?

“You told Jennifer that you would have her order completed by Friday, didn’t you?” is a forceful and assertive question, which would invariably qualify as leading if delivered under direct examination of a witness. In this case, the attorney directly suggests a response, then badgers the witness to confirm the answer, instead of providing what they know to be true. Studies show that this kind of technique frequently provokes a response that is either grossly skewed or outright false. It creates a stressful situation, not unlike that of an interrogation, and the witness instinctively looks for a way out of the situation by providing what they think the attorney wants to hear. In the past, many people have been surprised by their own willingness to do this, once faced with the unaccustomed discomfort of being on the witness stand.

What is the most important communication skill in a legal career?

Among the most important communication skills to master is asking questions effectively .

Why is questioning important?

In the context of clients, these skills are important for learning about the details of the case, confirming information, and avoiding misunderstandings.

What is the difference between open and closed questions?

Open-ended questions typically elicit more information, while closed-ended questions can be answered with one word or phrase. For instance, “Tell me what happened that night” is an open-ended question that might lead to your gathering plentiful information from the interviewee, whereas “where was the party” is a closed-ended question that can be answered directly with the address of the event, with no other detail.

What is funnel questioning?

Funnel questioning involves an intentional sequence of inquiry that typically consists of a long line of closed-ended questions, which, when answered, can allow for more open-ended questions later on. For instance, if you wanted to learn about a car accident your client was involved in, you might choose to use a line of questioning similar to the one below:

What is probing in a report?

Probing is a technique that involves asking for more information about a previous statement. For example, if you needed something from a direct report who told you the information wasn’t accessible, you could ask, “what, exactly, makes the information difficult to access?”

What is the rule for leading questions?

Under Rule 611 (c), leading questions are permitted during cross-examination. If the leading question is begin asked during direct, is there another permissible reason for it, such as the development of the witness’s testimony or the fact that the witness is adverse to the questioning lawyer?

Can you use leading questions on cross examination?

Leading questions should not be used on the direct examination of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness’ testimony. Ordinarily leading questions should be permitted on cross-examination.

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Suggestive Insinuation

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“Did you see Michael at 3 p.m.?” would qualify, under most circumstances, as a leading question; it plants the suggestion of the corresponding time period in the subject’s mind. Eyewitness testimony is often unreliable, as it is prone to unclear recollections, false memories, and personal subjectivity. Simply mentioning a qua…
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Too Many Variables

  • “Did Janice strike you in the face, with her fist?” would qualify as a leading question; there are too many variables in the question for a simple, reliable answer. This is a relatively simple question, but the same issue can arise in circumstances that are much more complicated, wherein each variable needs to be addressed separately. The correct course of action, given the example prov…
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Glossing Over Important Details

  • “Mr. Renfield owned this revolver, correct?” followed by “And this is the same revolver that was found at the murder scene, correct?” is an example of how a clever attorney might try to bias the jury against a defendant across a series of two or more questions, which may or may not be individually leading, but which combine to produce the same effect. In the example provided, bot…
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Asserting Unconfirmed Qualities

  • “You told Jennifer that you would have her order completed by Friday, didn’t you?” is a forceful and assertive question, which would invariably qualify as leading if delivered under direct examination of a witness. In this case, the attorney directly suggests a response, then badgers the witness to confirm the answer, instead of providing what they know to be true. Studies show that this kind …
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Jury Manipulation Through Reverse Psychology

  • Perhaps counter-intuitively, a series of questions might be offered which, at first glance, seem to be exactly the opposite of leading. They might come across as almost strangely open-ended, even to the point of being virtually irrelevant. This is a common tactic used by attorneys to try and instill doubt in the jury by making the witness appear unreliable: the way the attorney presents their qu…
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For More Information

  • The matter of what constitutes a leading question represents a complicated, frequently contentious aspect of the American legal system, given the amount of subjectivity involved. Learn more about leading questions and other rules of evidence, including the permitted scope of cross-examination, at the Cornell Law SchoolLegal Information Institute.
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