10. Cross-Examination and Impeachment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
4.08 “Open Door” Evidence (1) a Party
4.08 “Open Door” Evidence (1) A party may “open the door” to the introduction by an opposing party of evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible when in the presentation of argument, cross-examination of a witness, or other presentation of evidence the party has given an incomplete and misleading impression on an issue. (2) A trial court must exercise its discretion to decide whether a party has “opened the door” to otherwise inadmissible evidence. In so doing, the trial court should consider whether, and to what extent, the evidence or argument claimed to “open the door” is incomplete and misleading and what, if any, otherwise inadmissible evidence is reasonably necessary to explain, clarify, or otherwise correct an incomplete and misleading impression. (3) To assure the proper exercise of the court’s discretion and avoid the introduction of otherwise inadmissible evidence, the recommended practice is for a party to apply to the trial court for a ruling on whether the door has been opened before proceeding forward, and the court should so advise the parties before taking evidence. Note Subdivisions (1) and (2) recite the long-settled “open door” principle in New York, as primarily explained in People v Melendez (55 NY2d 445 [1982]); People v Rojas (97 NY2d 32, 34 [2001]); People v Massie (2 NY3d 179 [2004]); and People v Reid (19 NY3d 382 [2012]). Melendez dealt with the issue of whether the defense had opened the door to permit the prosecutor to explore an aspect of the investigation that would not otherwise have been admissible. The Court began by noting that, when an “opposing party ‘opens the door’ on cross-examination to matters not touched upon during the direct examination, a party has the right on redirect to explain, clarify and fully elicit [the] question only partially examined on cross-examination.” (Melendez at 451 1 [internal quotation marks and citation omitted].) Argument to the jury or other presentation of evidence also may open the door to the admission of otherwise inadmissible evidence. -
Congressional Testimony
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY H.R. 51, "Washington, D.C. Admission Act" Testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform United States House of Representatives March 22, 2021 Zack Smith Legal Fellow Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies The Heritage Foundation Table of Contents I. The District of Columbia cannot be converted into our nation's 51st state without a constitutional amendment 3 II. Former Washington, DC Mayor Walter E. Washington raised practical concerns about making the District a state, and former Delegate Walter Fauntroy raised constitutional concerns 4 III. The historical reasons for securing full federal control over the seat of government, for preventing one state from having outsized influence on the federal government, and for the important symbolic value of having a national capital free from a single state's influence remain true today 6 IV. Both Democratic and Republican Justice Departments have reached the same conclusion that DC statehood requires a constitutional amendment 8 A. The fact that Congress has used its authority under Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution to admit 37 other states is constitutionally irrelevant. The District owes its existence to the fact that Congress exercised its CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY authority under Article I, section 8, clause 17 of the Constitution to create it. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9 l. The prior retrocession of part of the District to Virginia should not be used as precedent 1O 2. Maryland's consent is needed before a new state can be created from the land it donated to create the federal seat of government 10 B. The Twenty-Third Amendment provides the most serious constitutional obstacle to the District's becoming a state via simple legislation. -
Waiver of the Attorney-Client Privilege: a Balanced Approach
339780COV_P1 6/5/06 11:40 AM Page 1 WAIVER OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE: A BALANCED APPROACH by The Honorable Dick Thornburgh Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP Foreword by The Honorable John Engler President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers Introduction by Laura Stein Senior Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary The Clorox Company ® WASHINGTON LEGAL FOUNDATION Washington, D.C. 339780COV_P2 6/5/06 11:41 AM Page 2 WLF’S LEGAL STUDIES DIVISION This Monograph is one of a series of original papers published by the Legal Studies Division of the Washington Legal Foundation. Through this The Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) established its Legal Studies Division to and other publications, WLF seeks to provide the national legal community address cutting-edge legal issues by publishing substantive, credible publications targeted at with legal studies on a variety of timely public policy issues. Additional educating policy makers, the media, and other key legal policy outlets. copies of this Monograph may be obtained by writing to the Publications WLF’s Legal Studies Division has deliberately adopted a unique approach that sets it Department, Washington Legal Foundation, 2009 Massachusetts Avenue, apart from other policy centers. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. First, the Division deals almost exclusively with legal policy questions as they relate to the principles of free enterprise, legal and judicial restraint, and America’s economic and Other recent studies in the WLF Monograph series include: national security. Exporting Precaution: How Europe’s Risk-Free Regulatory Agenda Second, its publications focus on a highly select legal policy-making audience. -
The Australian Priest-Penitent Privilege: Are They Protected?
Journal of Politics and Law; Vol. 6, No. 4; 2013 ISSN 1913-9047 E-ISSN 1913-9055 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education The Australian Priest-Penitent Privilege: Are They Protected? Patrick van Esch1 & Linda Jean van Esch2 1 School of Law, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, Australia 2 Western Australian School of Mines, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Australia Correspondence: Patrick van Esch, School of Law, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia. Tel: 61-8-8946-6666. E-mail: [email protected] Received: August 5, 2013 Accepted: August 23, 2013 Online Published: November 29, 2013 doi:10.5539/jpl.v6n4p90 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v6n4p90 Abstract In Australia, the extent of the priest-penitent privilege has received much attention recently due to the appointment of a Royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in 2012. At present, only five (5) Australian jurisdictions provide statutes for some form of privilege to protect certain types of communications between clerics and individuals. The other jurisdictions rely on case law where it is deemed that the priest-penitent privilege does not apply, but this belief is yet to be tested. In an attempt to abide by their religious laws, and depending on the their particular denomination, clerics may be entitled, not obliged to refuse divulging subject matter from religious confessions, even if a confession was made or not. Keywords: priest-penitent privilege, the evidence acts, religious law, professional communications privilege, case law, state law, cleric 1. Introduction With the sanctity of the confessional being challenged in an increasingly secular world, it is becoming more likely that a religious cleric may be called to give evidence in a court of law; irrespective of any understanding towards the cleric’s ethical and religious obligations. -
The Basic Elements of Direct Examination
The basic elements of direct examination * By: F. Dennis Saylor IV and Daniel I. Small ) February 24, 2017 In theory, at least, an effective direct examination should be one of the easiest things to accomplish in the courtroom. The witness is almost always friendly; in fact, it’s often your own client. The testimony is almost always entirely predictable. And the goal is usually pretty straightforward: telling your side of the story. Nonetheless, too many direct examinations are neither as clear nor as compelling as they ought to be. Maybe that’s because too many lawyers view direct as a simple, almost mechanical, task: Just put your witness on the stand and press “play.” But a truly effective direct examination cannot be created on the fly; it requires careful organization and planning. Moreover, it requires discipline — in particular, the discipline to ask questions carefully, without leading and without excess “noise.” In our upcoming columns, we will talk about different parts of the challenge of effective direct examination. But let’s begin at the beginning. There are six basic elements of an effective direct examination: (1) introducing the witness, (2) setting the stage, (3) telling the story, (4) showing the evidence, (5) defusing problems and (6) concluding effectively. 1. Introducing the witness Most lawyers ask a handful of questions up front to introduce and “humanize” the witness. A few questions about a witness’s background (such as residence, occupation, family or education) are normally permitted, even if technically they aren’t always entirely relevant. But be careful not to overdo this. -
Proffer Agreements
BAR OURNAL J FEATURE States Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York provides: [T]he Office may use any statements made by Proffer Agreements Client: (A) to obtain leads to other evidence, which evidence may be used by the Office in any stage of a criminal prosecution (including What Is Your Client Waiving but not limited to detention hearing, trial or sentencing), civil or administrative proceeding, (B) as substantive evidence to and Is It Worth the Risk? cross-examine Client, should Client testify, and (C) as substantive evidence to rebut, directly or indirectly, any evidence offered or elicited, BY JOHN MCCAFFREY & JON OEBKER or factual assertions made, by or on behalf of Client at any stage of a criminal prosecution (including but not limited to detention hearing, our client is the target of a federal a plea of guilty later withdrawn” is inadmissible trial or sentencing).(Emphasis added.) investigation. He is offered the against the defendant. It is well-settled that the In practice, the particular language of these opportunity to speak with prosecutors protections afforded under these rules can be agreements determines what triggering events Yand investigators so that they have “his side” waived in proffer agreements, thus opening the open the door to the admission of a client’s of the story before determining whether door for a client’s statements to be used against proffer statements at trial. For example, in charges will be pursued. You may ask yourself, him at trial. United States v. Mezzanatto, 513 United States v. Gonzalez, 309 F.3d 882 (5th “What do I have to lose?” Well, the answer is U.S. -
Probate and Property (35:01)
THE COVID-19 ISSUE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 REMOTE INK NOTARIZATION EVICTIONS AND THE VOL 35, NO 1 VIRUS ON COMMERCIAL LEASE AND REMOTE WITNESSING COVID-19 PANDEMIC JAN/FEB 2021 TRANSACTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION | REAL PROPERTY, TRUST AND ESTATE LAW SECTION SO MANY HAVE DIED COVID-19 in America’s Nursing Homes The Section is excited to announce the RPTE Book Club. The RPTE Book Club is a lecture and Q&A Series with the authors. Each series will be a different book title within the legal field. THE COLOR OF LAW A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America Join RPTE along with author Richard Rothstein as he discusses how segregation in America is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal levels along with a Q&A session. Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12-1 PM CT The first 100 registrants will receive a copy of the book with their registration fee. Register at ambar.org/rptebookclub PROFESSORS’ CORNER PROFESSORS’ CORNER A monthly webinar featuring a panel of professors addressing recent cases or issues of relevance to A monthlypractitioners webinar and featuring scholars ofa panel real estate of professors or trusts addressing and estates. recent FREE cases for RPTE or issues Section of relevance members to! practitioners and scholars of real estate or trusts and estates. FREE for RPTE Section members! Register for each webinar at http://ambar.org/ProfessorsCornerRegister for each webinar at http://ambar.org/ProfessorsCorner WILLS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: TOWARDS THE SECURE ACT: RETIREMENT PLANNING SENSIBLE APPLICATION OF FORMALITIES AND MONETARY EXPECTATIONS THE LEGACIES OF RACIAL RESTRICTIVE MOORE ON POWELL AND I.R.C. -
Preserving the Record
Chapter Seven: Preserving the Record Edward G. O’Connor, Esquire Patrick R. Kingsley, Esquire Echert Seamans Cherin & Mellot Pittsburgh PRESERVING THE RECORD I. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE RECORD. Evidentiary rulings are seldom the basis for a reversal on appeal. Appellate courts are reluctant to reverse because of an error in admitting or excluding evidence, and sometimes actively search for a way to hold that a claim of error in an evidence ruling is barred. R. Keeton, Trial Tactics and Methods, 191 (1973). It is important, therefore, to preserve the record in the trial court to avoid giving the Appellate Court the opportunity to ignore your claim of error merely because of a technicality. II. PRESERVING THE RECORD WHERE THE TRIAL COURT HAS LET IN YOUR OPPONENT’S EVIDENCE. A. The Need to Object: 1. Preserving the Issue for Appeal. A failure to object to the admission of evidence ordinarily constitutes a waiver of the right to object to the admissibility or use of that evidence. Taylor v. Celotex Corp., 393 Pa. Super. 566, 574 A.2d 1084 (1990). If there is no objection, the court is not obligated to exclude improper evidence being offered. Errors in admitting evidence at trial are usually waived on appeal unless a proper, timely objection was made during the trial. Commonwealth v. Collins, 492 Pa. 405, 424 A.2d 1254 (1981). The rules of appellate procedure are meant to afford the trial judge an opportunity to correct any mistakes that have been made before these mistakes can be a basis of appeal. A litigator will not be allowed to ambush the trial judge by remaining silent at trial and voice an objection to the Appellate Court only after an unfavorable verdict or judgment is reached. -
Using Leading Questions During Direct Examination
Florida State University Law Review Volume 23 Issue 2 Article 4 Fall 1995 Using Leading Questions During Direct Examination Charles W. Ehrhardt Florida State University College of Law Stephanie J. Young Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.law.fsu.edu/lr Part of the Evidence Commons, and the State and Local Government Law Commons Recommended Citation Charles W. Ehrhardt & Stephanie J. Young, Using Leading Questions During Direct Examination, 23 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 401 (1995) . https://ir.law.fsu.edu/lr/vol23/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Florida State University Law Review by an authorized editor of Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. USING LEADING QUESTIONS DURING DIRECT EXAMINATION CHARLES W. EHRHARDT* AND STEPHANIE J. YOUNG"* I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 401 II. BEFORE ADOPTION OF FLORIDA'S EVIDENCE CODE ......... 402 A. An Exception for Leading Questions on Direct Examination ................................................ 402 B. Voucher Rule Barred Impeaching a Party'sOwn Witness ....................................................... 404 III. ADOPTION OF FLORIDA'S EVIDENCE CODE ................... 405 A. Section 90.608: Impeaching an Adverse Witness... 405 B. Section 90.612(3): Use of Leading Questions ....... 406 C. 1990 Amendment to Section 90.608 ................... 408 D. Evidence Code Amendments Make Rule Unnecessary................................................ -
New York Evidentiary Foundations Randolph N
digitalcommons.nyls.edu Faculty Scholarship Books 1993 New York Evidentiary Foundations Randolph N. Jonakait H. Baer E. S. Jones E. Imwinkelried Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/fac_books Part of the Evidence Commons Recommended Citation Jonakait, Randolph N.; Baer, H.; Jones, E. S.; and Imwinkelried, E., "New York Evidentiary Foundations" (1993). Books. Book 4. http://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/fac_books/4 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at DigitalCommons@NYLS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@NYLS. New York .Evidentiary Foundations RANDOLPH N. JONAKAIT HAROLD BAER, JR. E. STEWART JONES, JR. EDWARD J. IMWINKELRIED THE MICHIE COMPANY Law Publishers CHARLOTIESVILLE, Vlli:GINIA CoPYRIGHT ~ 1H93 BY THE MICHIE COMI'ANY Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 93-77731 ISBN: 1-55834-058-0 All rights reserved. lllllllllllllllllllllllllm IIIII SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table of Contents . v Chapter 1. Introduction . 1 Chapter 2. Related Procedures .. .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ..... 11 Chapter 3. The Competency ofWitnesses .......................... 25 Chapter 4. Authentication . 45 Chapter 5. Limitations on Credibility Evidence . 99 Chapter 6. Limitations on Evidence That Is Relevant to the Merits of the Case . 129 Chapter 7. Privileges and Similar Doctrines . 155 Chapter 8. The Best Evidence Rule . 199 Chapter 9. Opinion Evidence ......................................... 225 Chapter 10. The Hearsay Rule, Its Exemptions, and Its Excep- tions ......................................................... 241 Chapter 11. Substitutes for Evidence . .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. ..... ... .. 315 Index ......................................................................... 329 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Summary Table of Contents 111 Chapter 1. Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 · A. Introduction . 1 B. Laying a Foundation - In General . 2 1. -
Direct Examination
Direct Examination dvocates begin the presentation of evidence by calling witnesses. The questions they ask of the witnesses they call are direct examination. A Direct examination of a witness should be the easiest part of an arbitration hearing. You have a friendly witness on the stand who generally wants to be helpful to your case. All you need do is ask the witness some simple questions and let them tell the arbitrator their story. Nothing could be easier, right? And nothing could be more perilous. Unlike cross-examination, you do not have complete control over the witness. Rather than stating facts and merely having the witness agree or disagree with those facts, as on cross, during direct it is the witness who narrates the facts. A misstatement, momentary lapse of memory or even an inappropriate emotional response and your case has suddenly become that much more difficult. Like any skill, questioning a witness is something that can be improved with practice and study. Practice not only by conducting direct examinations during your assigned arbitration hearings but also by offering to assist your fellow advocates as they prepare witnesses for arbitration. Help them conduct mock examinations of the witnesses that will testify during their assigned arbitrations. In addition, I recommend watching other advocates in action. If they’re better than you are, you’ll discover new skills or techniques you can apply to your cases. If they’re worse than you are, you’ll be reminded about mistakes that you shouldn’t repeat. Regardless of what happens, you’re almost guaranteed to learn something. -
Federal Marital Privileges in a Criminal Context: the Eedn for Further Modification Since Trammel The
Washington and Lee Law Review Volume 43 | Issue 1 Article 10 Winter 1-1-1986 Federal Marital Privileges In A Criminal Context: The eedN For Further Modification Since Trammel The Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlulr Part of the Civil Procedure Commons, and the Evidence Commons Recommended Citation Federal Marital Privileges In A Criminal Context: The Need For Further Modification Since Trammel The, 43 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 197 (1986), https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlulr/vol43/iss1/10 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington and Lee Law Review at Washington & Lee University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington and Lee Law Review by an authorized editor of Washington & Lee University School of Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FEDERAL MARITAL PRIVILEGES IN A CRIMINAL CONTEXT: THE NEED FOR FURTHER MODIFICATION SINCE TRAMMEL The defendant's privilege to prevent admission of his or her spouse's testimony at trial has existed in one form or another for roughly 400 years.' Not until the twentieth century, however, have the marital privileges under- gone major modifications and faced the possibility of abolition. 2 The adverse spousal testimony privilege and the confidential communications privilege constitute the marital privileges. The adverse spousal testimony privilege prevents the admission into evidence of a spouse's testimony that tends to incriminate a defendant spouse.' The confidential communications privilege 4 excludes from evidence private marital communications between spouses. Exceptions to the privileges have developed begrudgingly and reluctantly.5 1.Trammel v.