Mock Trial Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key courtroom roles, procedures, and rules for mock trial.

Bench trial

A trial decided by a judge instead of a jury-this is how mock trial is conducted.

Presiding judge

Controls the courtroom, rules on objections and motions, and does not question witnesses or attorneys.

Scoring judge

Evaluates individual and team performance; does not rule on objections.

Bailiff

Opens and closes court and swears in witnesses using scripted language.

Timekeeper

Tracks time for each phase of the trial using a stopwatch and time cards.

Direct examination

Questioning of your own witness. Must use open-ended, non-leading questions.

Cross-examination

Questioning of the opposing side's witness. Leading questions are expected.

Re-direct

Follow-up questions after cross, limited to what was raised on cross.

Re-cross

Follow-up questions after re-direct, limited to what was raised on re-direct.

Objection

A formal challenge to a question or answer as improper under the rules of evidence.

Sustained

The judge agrees with the objection; the question or answer is disallowed.

Overruled

The judge disagrees with the objection; the question or answer stands.

Impeachment

Attacking a witness's credibility, often with a prior inconsistent statement.

Exhibit

A document or physical item introduced into evidence through a witness.

Theory of the case

The central, persuasive story a team tells that ties together all its favorable facts and law.

Fair extrapolation

A reasonable answer a witness gives on cross to a question not covered in their statement, as long as it doesn't contradict it.

Invention of fact

Testimony that goes beyond the witness statement in a way that creates new, unsupported facts-objectionable.