Objections

Relevance

Relevance

Testimony is irrelevant to the facts of the case

More prejudicial than probative

Question is more of an attack than it provides substaintial evidence and value to the court

Vague and ambiguous

The question is not clear enough for the true answer to be given

Asked and answered

The witness already provided the answer to this question

Compound

Two or more questions asked in the form of one

Mischaracterization of testimony

Council makes it seem like the witness said one thing but really they said another (more common during cross)

Lack of foundation

Testimony or evidence has not been provided to elicit this line of questioning

Unfair extrapolation

Asks for the witness to testify to something not in their statement (deposition)

Improper character testimony

When general personality traits are used to show how a person acted in a specific situation

Improper use of crimes/wrongs

When a crime/wrong is used to prove general personality traits to show how a person acted in a specific situation

Witness lacks personal knowledge

The witness has no personal knowledge that would enable them to answer the question

Speculation

Question calls for the witness to infer what someone else was doing/thinking

Argumentative

Question seeks undue embarassment for the witness and doesn’t do anything to help determine the truth

Calls for a narrative

Asks the witness to narrate a series of events

Leading

Questions suggests an answer to the witness or pushes them towards a yes/no answer

Answer is non-responsive

A witness does not properly answer the question posed to them

Beyond the scope

The question is not allowed in redirect or recross because it addresses a topic not brought up in the previous line of questioning

Council is asking the witness for an opinion

Question asks the witness to provide an opinion on a matter in which they lack personal knowledge

Assumes facts not in evidence

Councils question assumes facts not in evidence or testimony

Hearsay

Evidence or statmentat by a person that is not a witness offered by someone else (witness cannot quote from other witnesses)

Badgering the witness

Opposing council has become hostile with the witness (too aggressive, interrupting the witness excessively, etc)

Improper conclusion of law

Council is calling for the witness to make a conclusion about the law