Would you be a good witness or do you think you would end up losing your cool and end up being reprimanded by the judge?.
I would probably end up being reprimanded if I thought the questions were unfair.
2006-11-09 06:24:44 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Minitherm it must be an Omen!
2006-11-09 06:34:44 · update #1
Sssh, we have cop in our mist so watch your P&Q so don't give anything away. Okay!
2006-11-09 06:39:36 · update #2
Middenmak your talk to me about justice...your poor dog looks as though he almost dead on his feet, his been standing there for ages.
2006-11-09 06:42:47 · update #3
I had a dream about this the other night believe it or not...I was dragged kicking and screaming through frustration from the witness box because the prosecution put the questions in such a way that I couldn't say what I wanted to.
2006-11-09 06:29:39 · answer #1 · answered by minitheminx65 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pretty well, I did a stint as a 'witness' at Hastings law school in San Francisco. It was fun trying to anticipate the lawyer's direction of questioning, I'd do it again.
A law school isn't a real court though, there's no down side to saying the wrong thing and I got to be difficult with the 'lawyers' in ways a judge might not have allowed in a real court. For example, pushed to answer "yes or no" I said "if you want a yes or no answer then ask a yes or no question".
Don't know if it's good practice for the real thing, I hope I never need to find out.
2006-11-09 06:43:01 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe I would do pretty well.. I would come prepared to say clearly and confidently whatever it was I knew, or heard or saw. I would not allow myself to be bullied by the opposing counsel, and would respectfully point out if I felt the question being asked was skewed in a way that I could only answer it in my own way. For example if I was cut short and told "answer just yes or no" I would say quietly, that it was not a "yes/no" answer
As a witness for one side, that particular lawyer would have already had a thorough conversation with me and explained what it was I needed to be absolutely sure of, and in what ways he expected the opposing counsel to attempt to "shoot me down". So if I had a lick of sense, I would come thoroughly prepared; ready to tell the truth, speak quietly and with confidence, and remember NOT not take the behaviour of the opposing counsel personally. After all, as a witness, YOU are not the one on trial; the other guy is LOL
2006-11-09 06:59:45 · answer #3 · answered by sharmel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To all of you who have "plans" for when you hit the box - you don't get to make any decisions in court. You get to answer questions, you do NOT get to ask questions of the Judge or any attorney, and in most states (New York and California being exceptions to this,) if you make the mistake of copping an attitude with the Judge or being a smartass in the box, you go directly to a holding cell while you await your contempt of court hearing that afternoon.
If you're called as a witness in a trial, just be HONEST. Answer the questions honestly, and you have nothing to be concerned about.
2006-11-09 07:27:03 · answer #4 · answered by BoardingJD 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a cop (or police constable as we British say), I've done it a few times. So long as one remembers that it's all a game then it's rather a jolly good laugh. It helps that I don't get intimidated by the 'posh' barristers. I think they are more surprised that I speak like them and give the odd humorous answer. They love it if someone tries to argue with them - I don't. Court is a tiny part of my job but a large part of theirs, they know the case and the relevant law far better as they have been reading up on it. I don't. I suppose it's easier for me as I don't have any real objective view in the case.
2006-11-09 06:36:34 · answer #5 · answered by Ben631 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Been a witness in a murder trial. No problems other than the judge couldn't type swiftly on his laptop and asked me to hang fire.
Stood like a lemon with the entire jury staring at me - not particularly thrilling!
2006-11-09 06:29:43 · answer #6 · answered by steven b 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would be a good witness, I think. Just answer honestly and only tell them what they wanna know. Don't give out too much information. If your honest then what is there to worry about?
2006-11-09 06:27:03 · answer #7 · answered by J~Me 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think I would do good because I would freak and go blank no matter what it was about. Also I have a hard time getting what I'm thinking out in an educated way when I'm under pressure.
2006-11-09 06:38:08 · answer #8 · answered by hsw 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was a witness once. It wasn't so bad though because the person I was testifying against was defending himself and he was the one questioning me. He tried to get me to change my story but it just made me laugh since I knew he knew he was guilty. I had no connection to him and was getting nothing in return for testifying so it didn't make sense that I would lie.
2006-11-09 06:28:18 · answer #9 · answered by G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would be a fantastic witness - I would pretend I was a high class lawyer, LA Law style and would fire questions back at the real lawyers.
2006-11-09 06:27:15 · answer #10 · answered by Ally 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋