Judicial Information
Judicial
When is the Judicial Conference?
This year’s conference is November 12-14.
Where is the Judicial Conference?
The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel.
How many people can you have on a team?
Each team needs 3 lawyers and 3 witnesses and can also have an alternate.
Trial Information
What is an Opening Statement?
An opening statement is a short summary of facts that outlines what you are going to prove through witness testimony and the admission of evidence in the case. While giving the opening statement you should always mention burden of proof and who has it. Your opening statement should be written before the trial and have it memorized!
What is a Closing Statement?
A closing statement is your last chance to present your case to the jury and judge. You should remind the jury of the strengths in your argument and the the weaknesses in the other team’s argument. Mention the burden of proof and how you either proved it or how the opposing team failed to prove it.
What is Direct Examination?
Direct Examination is the obtaining of information from a witness on your team in order to prove the facts of your case. The purpose of direct examination is to allow the witness to narrate the facts in support of the case. An attorney may not ask leading questions during direct examination.
What is Cross examination?
Cross-examination is the questioning by an attorney from the opposing side of the case. The purpose of cross-examination is to discredit the witness. Cross-examination may cover but is not limited to: the subject matter of the direct examination, matters affecting the credibility of the witness and additional matters, otherwise available, that were not covered on direct examination. Leading questions are permissible on cross-examination.
What is Re-direct examination?
If the credibility or reputation for truthfulness of the witness has been attacked on cross-examination, the attorney whose witness has been damaged may wish to ask several more questions. These questions should be limited to the damage the attorney thinks has been done and should be phrased so as to try to "save" the witness's truth-telling image in the eyes of the court. Re-direct examination is limited to issues raised by the attorney on cross-examination.
What is Re-cross examination?
Opposing counsel can ask the witness clarifying questions after re-direct but they must be in the scope of the re-direct and should avoid repetition.
What are Objections?
An attorney can object any time that the opposing attorneys violate the rules of evidence. Objections are part of the scoring criteria so make sure you object often, but have a good reason for the objection or points will be taken off. Also be able to defend your questions against objections.
Examples of Objections:
Irrelevant evidence: " Objection. This testimony is irrelevant to the facts of this case."
Leading questions: "Objection. Counsel is leading the witness." (Remember, this is only objectionable when done on direct examination.)
Improper character testimony: "Objection. The witness's character or reputation has not been put in issue."
"Objection. Only the witness's reputation/character for truthfulness is at issue here."
Beyond the scope of direct examination: "Objection. Counsel is asking the witness about matters that did not come up in direct examination."
Hearsay: "Objection. Counsel's question/the witness's answer is based on hearsay." (If the witness makes a hearsay statement, the attorney should also say, "and I ask that the statement be stricken from the record.")
Opinion: "Objection. Counsel is asking the witness to give an opinion."
Lack of personal knowledge: "Objection. The witness has no personal knowledge that would enable him to answer this question."
When is the Judicial Conference?
This year’s conference is November 12-14.
Where is the Judicial Conference?
The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel.
How many people can you have on a team?
Each team needs 3 lawyers and 3 witnesses and can also have an alternate.
Trial Information
What is an Opening Statement?
An opening statement is a short summary of facts that outlines what you are going to prove through witness testimony and the admission of evidence in the case. While giving the opening statement you should always mention burden of proof and who has it. Your opening statement should be written before the trial and have it memorized!
What is a Closing Statement?
A closing statement is your last chance to present your case to the jury and judge. You should remind the jury of the strengths in your argument and the the weaknesses in the other team’s argument. Mention the burden of proof and how you either proved it or how the opposing team failed to prove it.
What is Direct Examination?
Direct Examination is the obtaining of information from a witness on your team in order to prove the facts of your case. The purpose of direct examination is to allow the witness to narrate the facts in support of the case. An attorney may not ask leading questions during direct examination.
What is Cross examination?
Cross-examination is the questioning by an attorney from the opposing side of the case. The purpose of cross-examination is to discredit the witness. Cross-examination may cover but is not limited to: the subject matter of the direct examination, matters affecting the credibility of the witness and additional matters, otherwise available, that were not covered on direct examination. Leading questions are permissible on cross-examination.
What is Re-direct examination?
If the credibility or reputation for truthfulness of the witness has been attacked on cross-examination, the attorney whose witness has been damaged may wish to ask several more questions. These questions should be limited to the damage the attorney thinks has been done and should be phrased so as to try to "save" the witness's truth-telling image in the eyes of the court. Re-direct examination is limited to issues raised by the attorney on cross-examination.
What is Re-cross examination?
Opposing counsel can ask the witness clarifying questions after re-direct but they must be in the scope of the re-direct and should avoid repetition.
What are Objections?
An attorney can object any time that the opposing attorneys violate the rules of evidence. Objections are part of the scoring criteria so make sure you object often, but have a good reason for the objection or points will be taken off. Also be able to defend your questions against objections.
Examples of Objections:
Irrelevant evidence: " Objection. This testimony is irrelevant to the facts of this case."
Leading questions: "Objection. Counsel is leading the witness." (Remember, this is only objectionable when done on direct examination.)
Improper character testimony: "Objection. The witness's character or reputation has not been put in issue."
"Objection. Only the witness's reputation/character for truthfulness is at issue here."
Beyond the scope of direct examination: "Objection. Counsel is asking the witness about matters that did not come up in direct examination."
Hearsay: "Objection. Counsel's question/the witness's answer is based on hearsay." (If the witness makes a hearsay statement, the attorney should also say, "and I ask that the statement be stricken from the record.")
Opinion: "Objection. Counsel is asking the witness to give an opinion."
Lack of personal knowledge: "Objection. The witness has no personal knowledge that would enable him to answer this question."