Comments on: Six Witness Rules http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/08/six-witness-rules.html the tao of criminal defense trial lawyering Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:13:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/08/six-witness-rules.html/comment-page-1#comment-317 Anonymous Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:18:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=250#comment-317 When an attorney objects, keep quiet and listen to the objections, the response and the judge's ruling. Even if it is a sidebar most witness stands are near the judge.<br/><br/>I tell my clients to watch their behavior even outside the courtroom. Anyone could be a juror, even the guy next to you at breakfast. When an attorney objects, keep quiet and listen to the objections, the response and the judge’s ruling. Even if it is a sidebar most witness stands are near the judge.

I tell my clients to watch their behavior even outside the courtroom. Anyone could be a juror, even the guy next to you at breakfast.

]]> By: Kirk Chavez http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/08/six-witness-rules.html/comment-page-1#comment-315 Kirk Chavez Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:21:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=250#comment-315 11. Don't feel the need to fill in silence. Answer the question and STOP. After you have answered the question, if the courtroom is silent, do not fill in the silence with any other comments. 11. Don’t feel the need to fill in silence. Answer the question and STOP. After you have answered the question, if the courtroom is silent, do not fill in the silence with any other comments.

]]> By: Scott Greenfield http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/08/six-witness-rules.html/comment-page-1#comment-312 Scott Greenfield Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:30:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=250#comment-312 7. Never try to outsmart the prosecutor. Don't try to guess why they're asking the question. Just answer the question as asked.<br/><br/>8. Don't help the prosecution. If you're asked a question, but think that they really meant to ask a different question, don't help. Answer the question as asked. If they want the answer to a different question, let them ask it.<br/><br/>9. Don't let it bother you that they way a question was asked will result in an answer that you don't like. After cross-examination is over, we get another chance to correct the testimony. If it's a problem, we'll fix it. Don't you try to fix it.<br/><br/>10. No matter how much you may hate the prosecutor or cop, don't get angry. Nobody looks credible when they are angry.<br/><br/>SHG 7. Never try to outsmart the prosecutor. Don’t try to guess why they’re asking the question. Just answer the question as asked.

8. Don’t help the prosecution. If you’re asked a question, but think that they really meant to ask a different question, don’t help. Answer the question as asked. If they want the answer to a different question, let them ask it.

9. Don’t let it bother you that they way a question was asked will result in an answer that you don’t like. After cross-examination is over, we get another chance to correct the testimony. If it’s a problem, we’ll fix it. Don’t you try to fix it.

10. No matter how much you may hate the prosecutor or cop, don’t get angry. Nobody looks credible when they are angry.

SHG

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