Trial Rules and Procedures:

Trial Procedure

1. Prosecution/Plaintiff opening statement
2. Defense opening statement
3. Prosecution/Plaintiff witness #1 (direct examination) – Defense cross examination
4. Prosecution/Plaintiff witness #2 (direct examination) – Defense cross examination
5. Defense witness #1 (direct examination) – Prosecution/Plaintiff cross examination
6. Defense witness #2 (direct examination) – Prosecution/Plaintiff cross examination
7. Prosecution/Plaintiff closing statement
8. Defense closing statement

Trial Rules (Objections)

1. Direct Examination –
1. lawyer cannot ask “leading questions” – questions that contain the answer to the question!
2. lawyer cannot ask questions that are “beyond the scope of the witness” – something that is not in the witness statement

2. Cross Examination – lawyer CAN ask leading questions

3. Other types of questions that should be “objected” to:

a. witnesses cannot give “expert” testimony unless the witness is an expert;

an expert is someone who is specially trained in an area – doctor,

policeman, etc.

2. hearsay - witness cannot testify about events he/she did not directly see or hear.
3. opinions – witnesses cannot give opinions (see expert testimony).