I try to be clear when I talk to the judge, the jury, and to witnesses, as do my colleagues in the defense bar. But clarity comes in different forms. Sometimes it comes with the answer as I learned in a hearing recently:
Prosecutor: Were you smoking dope that night?
Witness: What was that?
Prosecutor: Were you smoking dope that night?
Witness [outraged]: No, I wasn't smoking dope. [Pause.] I was smoking weed.
... and sometimes, it comes with the question....
Defense Atty: What is your relationship to the defendant?
(Female) Witness: Boyfriend.
Defense Atty: Okay.
Witness: Girlfriend.
Defense Atty: And do you-all have children together?
Witness: Yes, ma'am, three or four.
Defense Atty: Okay. Three or four?
Witness: Four.
Glad we got that sorted out. Finally.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments posted to this blog are NOT the opinion of the Travis County D.A.'s office, under any circumstances. They are only the personal, non-representative opinion of D.A. Confidential if posted under his name.
I welcome all comments, as long as they are expressed with politeness and respect. I will delete all comments that I deem to be personal attacks, or that are posted merely to antagonize or insult.