Witnesses vocab

Subpoena

a command, issued under a court’s authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony

hearsay

Evidence presented by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. It generally cannot be used as evidence in court

impeachment

the process of calling into question the truthfulness of a witness

direct examination

the first interrogation of a witness by the party on whose behalf the witness is called

cross-examination

questioning by a party or his/her attorney of an adverse party or witness called by an adverse party

testimony

evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries

direct evidence

evidence in the form of the testimony of a witness who saw, heard, or touch the subject in question

perjury

the act of lying or stating falsely under oath