Too Old To Work
Forum Lieutenant
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Appearing as a witness only is different than appearing as a defendant. Fortunately I have no experience with the latter, but more than I'd like as the former.
Here are few things I've learned over the years.
First, keep your answers direct and short. Listen carefully to the question, if you aren't sure what the attorney is asking, ask for the question to be repeated. Then answer as directly and briefly as possible without being unresponsive.
If you don't remember something say so. If there is a report written by you or your partner in evidence and you don't recall something, ask if you can look at it to refresh your memory.
When you are being asked a question, look at the attorney asking it. When you are answering a question, look at the jury. The lawyer, unless he is a complete idiot, knows the answer to the question he is asking. He is asking you to explain something to the jury so that they can include that information in their deliberations.
If you were called by the lawyer for one side, expect to be cross examined by the lawyer for the other side. THAT lawyers job is to impeach your credibility. He or she might bait you to get you to say something dumb that will make the jury think you are an idiot. Keep calm at all times, don't reply hastily. Keep in mind that you are a subject matter expert being asked to testify about something you are trained to do and do quite often.
Be polite to both attorneys and the judge. Especially the judge.
My agency's policy is that we testify in uniform, which the DA's like. It lends more credibility to our testimony.
If it's a criminal case and you are testifying for the prosecution, try to meet with the ADA before the trial. It's not always easy because ADAs, especially at the district court level are incredibly overworked.
Here are few things I've learned over the years.
First, keep your answers direct and short. Listen carefully to the question, if you aren't sure what the attorney is asking, ask for the question to be repeated. Then answer as directly and briefly as possible without being unresponsive.
If you don't remember something say so. If there is a report written by you or your partner in evidence and you don't recall something, ask if you can look at it to refresh your memory.
When you are being asked a question, look at the attorney asking it. When you are answering a question, look at the jury. The lawyer, unless he is a complete idiot, knows the answer to the question he is asking. He is asking you to explain something to the jury so that they can include that information in their deliberations.
If you were called by the lawyer for one side, expect to be cross examined by the lawyer for the other side. THAT lawyers job is to impeach your credibility. He or she might bait you to get you to say something dumb that will make the jury think you are an idiot. Keep calm at all times, don't reply hastily. Keep in mind that you are a subject matter expert being asked to testify about something you are trained to do and do quite often.
Be polite to both attorneys and the judge. Especially the judge.
My agency's policy is that we testify in uniform, which the DA's like. It lends more credibility to our testimony.
If it's a criminal case and you are testifying for the prosecution, try to meet with the ADA before the trial. It's not always easy because ADAs, especially at the district court level are incredibly overworked.
