Mock Trial Top 14 Objections

Relevance

Your Honor, Rule 401 states that evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make a claim or defense in the case more or less likely

Leading

Your Honor, Rule 611c states that a question is leading if it prompts or encourages the desired answer

Hearsay

Your Honor, Rule 801c states that hearsay is an out-of-court statement that is offered for the truth of the matter asserted

Speculation

Your Honor, Rule 602 states that a question or answer calls for speculation if it requires a witness to put themselves in another person's mind

Lack of personal knowledge

Your Honor, Rule 602 states a witness may only testify to a matter if they have already introduced enough evidence to show the court that they have personal knowledge of the issue

Improper opinion

Your Honor, Rule 701 states that unless a witness is qualified as an expert, a witness may only give an opinion that is rationally based on their perception, and such opinion may not be unfairly prejudicial

Assumes facts not in evidence

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits the implicit introduction of evidence through an attorney's question

Asked and answered

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits questioning that is time-wasting and gives undue emphasis to a point already made

Improper character evidence

Your Honor, Rule 404(a1) states that improper character evidence is the presentation of evidence of a past action in order to show conformity therewith

403

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits evidence and testimony where the probative value is substantially outweighed by the prejudicial effect

Cumulative

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits the rehashing of the same point over and over in a cumulative fashion

Vague

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits overly vague questions, as they risk confusing both the witness and the jury

Argumentative

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits questions that are argumentative in nature

Badgering the witness

Your Honor, Rule 403 prohibits questions that badger the witness