Mock Trial Objections

occurs when an attorney asks a question that argues their case during their examinations of witnesses

• argumentative question

• non-responsive answer

• leading

• irrelevant

occurs when a witness fails to respond to the question asked

• argumentative question

• non-responsive answer

• leading

• irrelevant

Attorneys will use this objection on direct examination but not cross.

• argumentative question

• non-responsive answer

• leading

• irrelevant

testimony is unrelated to the facts of the case

• argumentative question

• non-responsive answer

• leading

• irrelevant

the witness has no personal knowledge that would enable him/her to answer the question asked

• speculation

• hearsay

• narrative

• lack of proper predicate

occurs when a witness offers an out-of-court statement to prove the truth of the matter asserted in that statement

• speculation

• hearsay

• narrative

• lack of proper predicate

occurs when a witness answers a question with a story instead of specific case facts

• speculation

• hearsay

• narrative

• lack of proper predicate

occurs when exhibits are admitted into evidence before they have been identified, shown to be authentic, and questioned about

• speculation

• hearsay

• narrative

• lack of proper predicate

occurs when a question’s purpose is to suggest a predisposition toward crime rather than to establish an element of the crime or other relevant issue

• improper character testimony

• ambiguous question

• asked and answered

• unfair extrapolation

occurs when an attorney asks a question that is capable of being understood in two or more possible ways

• improper character testimony

• ambiguous question

• asked and answered

• unfair extrapolation