The Most Common Objections Used in Court
I object, your Honor!
If you watch any legal drama on television, chances are you’ve heard this exclamation more than once. We all know that television shows exaggerate in the name of entertainment, but this is one area that they typically get right. Objections are used in hearings and trials every day in an attempt to keep things fair for all involved. Here are some of the most common objections used and what they mean.
1. Hearsay
When you or someone else testifies in court, you cannot tell the court what someone else said. You must have been a firsthand witness to the event in question. You cannot say, “He told me…” or “She said…” without having the opposing side object very quickly. This is called hearsay evidence and is not admissible in court.
2. Speculation
You cannot be asked what you think when you are on the witness stand. For example, your attorney cannot ask you why you think someone may have acted in a certain way. It isn’t for you to say why you believe a defendant may have committed a crime. There is a single exception to this rule, and that is in the case of expert witnesses. These professionals are permitted to offer their opinions when asked to do so.
3. Relevance
The things a person is asked to speak to must be relevant to the case. You cannot be asked to speak about something or answer questions about a topic that has not been introduced in the proceedings. For example, when you are being cross-examined, the opposing attorney can only ask questions regarding what has already been testified to or introduced to the court.
4. Asked and Answered
This is to keep the trial process moving along. Your attorney will offer an objection if the other attorney asks you a question that has already been answered, XModGames APK Download V2.3.5 or if the other attorney asks you two questions in one. These objections have to do with the nature of questioning. A judge may tell the attorney to move along or, in the case of multiple questions in one, order the attorney to rephrase.
5. Leading the Witness
An attorney cannot phrase a question in such a way that they lead the witness to the answer. For example, an attorney may ask, “Why did you go into the store?” but not, “You didn’t enter the store with the intent to rob it, did you?” Many leading questions are yes or no questions and easily picked up on by both the opposing attorney and the judge.
While some of the things you see in courtroom dramas are not exactly what happens in reality, the objections you see are typically true to life. If you find yourself in trial, expect to hear at least one of these objections on the part of an attorney.
If you have been arrested for a crime in Orlando, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Reach out to our office today and schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. We will review the details of your arrest and subsequent charges and advise you of your options.