If you've ever watched a courtroom drama or followed live court proceedings, you've likely encountered objections during witness testimony. While television is not always an accurate depiction of what objections may look like, it is important to note they occur in civil cases and often times have implications on your case – depending on the objection. At Ciyou & Associates, P.C., we believe that understanding these common objections made during trials or depositions can empower you as a legal consumer and enhance the effectiveness of your trial testimony.
Understanding Evidence Types
To comprehend these objections, it's essential to differentiate between trial testimony and documentary evidence. Testimony involves spoken words, such as when an attorney asks a witness to state their name. Documentary evidence, on the other hand, typically involves the identification, foundation, and admission of documents relevant to the case.
Testimony can be further categorized into lay or expert testimony. Lay testimony, provided by parties involved in the lawsuit, is the most common type, while expert testimony comes from individuals with specialized knowledge outside the ordinary person's expertise.
The Three Most Common Objections
- Hearsay: Perhaps the most frequent objection, hearsay refers to out-of-court statements presented in court by someone other than a party to prove the truth of a matter. For example, if an attorney asks a witness about what a paramedic said at the scene of an accident, it's considered hearsay. The opposing party's attorney would likely object, and the court would sustain the objection, requiring the paramedic to testify in court instead.
- Leading: Leading questions, which contain or suggest the desired answer, are generally impermissible, particularly when posed to a favorable witness. These questions may speed up the questioning process but are objected to when they overly influence the witness's responses.
- Relevance: Objections based on relevance arise when a question or piece of evidence does not directly contribute to proving or disproving a relevant issue in the case. While relevant evidence is generally admissible, irrelevant evidence may be excluded if its prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value.
Potential Consequences of Objections
When an objection is raised during trial testimony, the witness must await the court's ruling. If sustained, the witness cannot answer the question, and the objectionable testimony may be stricken from the record. In some cases, objectionable statements may lead to a mistrial, necessitating a new trial.
Understanding these common objections provides insight into the trial court process and helps demystify courtroom procedures. Whether your case is decided by a judge or jury, familiarity with trial objections can empower you to navigate the legal system more effectively.
Your attorney should have a comprehensive meeting with to prepare you what to expect from direct examination and cross examination so that you can feel comfortable and prepared in anticipation of your hearing. A skilled family law attorney will know what to expect and how to combat objections when they are made to ensure the necessary information is conveyed to the judge.
This informative blog post was authored by the skilled and committed attorneys of Ciyou & Associates, P.C. Our legal team serves clients throughout the State, providing comprehensive legal support and guidance. This blog is not legal advice.