Questions and Answers
What is a subpoena?
What does a subpoena duces tecum require?
What is the purpose of the 'Rule' on witnesses?
To exclude witnesses from the courtroom during testimony
What is a lay witness?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes a leading question?
Signup and view all the answers
What is direct examination?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a narrative form of interrogation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is cross-examination?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an adverse witness?
Signup and view all the answers
What is impeachment in a legal context?
Signup and view all the answers
What does contradiction by cross-examination involve?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a prior inconsistent statement?
Signup and view all the answers
What does bias refer to in a witness?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an unresponsive answer?
Signup and view all the answers
What constitutes perjury?
Signup and view all the answers
What is lay opinion testimony?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of a document examiner?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a fingerprint expert do?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the responsibility of an accident investigator?
Signup and view all the answers
Who are crimes experts?
Signup and view all the answers
What do DNA experts work with?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of a footprint expert?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is an expert on mental illness?
Signup and view all the answers
What do polygraph experts do?
Signup and view all the answers
What is acoustical spectrography?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a voiceprint expert do?
Signup and view all the answers
What is refreshing recollection?
Signup and view all the answers
What is past recollection recorded?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Subpoenas
- Subpoena: Official document compelling a witness to appear in court or provide testimony.
- Subpoena Duces Tecum: Requires a witness to bring specific documents or evidence to court.
Witnesses and Testimony
- Rule on Witnesses: Ensures witnesses are excluded from the courtroom to prevent them from hearing each other's testimonies.
- Lay Witness: A non-expert who has personal knowledge about case facts, providing testimony in court.
- Leading Question: A question that suggests its own answer, prompting a specific response from the witness.
- Direct Examination: Involves open-ended questions allowing witnesses to present their testimony without the questioner suggesting answers.
- Narrative: A style of questioning where the witness recounts events in their own words, uninterrupted.
Cross-Examination
- Cross-Examination: Intense questioning by opposing counsel aimed at undermining a witness's credibility.
- Adverse Witness: A witness aligned with the opposing side whose testimony may be unfavorable to the questioner's case.
- Impeachment: Procedure to challenge the credibility of a witness's testimony, making it less believable.
- Contradiction by Cross-Examination: Involves challenging a witness's statements by presenting facts that oppose their earlier testimony.
- Prior Inconsistent Statement: Impeachment technique using previous contradictory statements made by the witness.
Witness Credibility Factors
- Bias: A witness's potential interest in the case outcome affecting their reliability.
- Unresponsive Answer: An answer by a witness that either fails to directly address the question or strays beyond its scope.
Legal Implications
- Perjury: The act of knowingly providing false testimony or statements, classified as a misdemeanor or felony.
- Lay Opinion Testimony: Non-expert witness opinions presented as testimony.
Expert Testimonies
- Document Examiner: An expert analyzing and authenticating documents and handwriting.
- Fingerprint Expert: Specialist who identifies fingerprints through comparison techniques.
- Accident Investigator: Professional tasked with examining the causes and consequences of vehicle accidents.
- Crimes Experts: Law enforcement professionals knowledgeable in crime methodology and equipment.
- DNA Experts: Scientists who analyze DNA evidence.
- Footprint Expert: Specialist in recognizing and interpreting unidentified footprints.
- Expert on Mental Illness: Typically a psychologist or psychiatrist providing insights on mental conditions.
- Polygraph Experts: Professionals skilled in administering and interpreting polygraph tests.
- Acoustical Spectrography: Science that analyzes sound components, resulting in a visual representation called a spectrogram.
- Voiceprint Expert: Identifies voices through acoustical spectrography techniques.
Memory and Evidence
- Refreshing Recollection: Techniques used to help a witness remember specific facts from their past experiences.
- Past Recollection Recorded: Admissible evidence from a documented fact previously known by a witness, despite lack of current memory.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the crucial legal concepts surrounding subpoenas and the roles of witnesses in court. Key topics include types of subpoenas, rules regarding witnesses, and the procedures of examination and cross-examination. Test your knowledge on how these elements function within the judicial system.