Direct Examination

1. Direct Examination Christopher R. Nichols Nichols Law Firm Raleigh, NC April 2004

2. Direct Examination Should be : • Interesting • To the point • Easy to understand • Compelling • Persuasive • Complete in relation to case/witness

4. WITNESSES • Plaintiff/family/friends • Expert Witnesses (Retained and “Fact”) • Fact Witnesses • Foundation Witnesses • Adverse Witnesses

5. PURPOSE OF DIRECT EXAMINATION • Introduce undisputed facts • Agreement of facts • Enhance the likelihood of disputed • If disputed, enhance acceptance of your facts • Lay foundations for exhibits • Reflect the credibility of witnesses

6. Adverse Witnesses • Opposing party in your case • Closing argument order • State v. Macon- introduction of evidence

7. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • CONSIDERATIONS: − Impact of the testimony − Understandability of the testimony − Integration of the testimony with other evidence

8. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • CONTENT − the driving force − exam must have central purpose  theory- short statement of why you win  theme- The ten word telegram

9. Know your audience

10. Planning and Organization • ask yourself  why am I calling witness?  what elements to prove?  what exhibits to use?  what effect on other witnesses?  what does he/she add? -vulnerabilities/cost

12. Planning and Organization • PRIORITIZE and DISCARD − be ruthless − length is your enemy − eliminate all nonessential facts that are − questionable − subject to impeachment − cumulative − distasteful − implausible − distracting − just plain boring

13. Planning and Organization • WHAT TO INCLUDE − central facts − supportive facts − thematic facts that give moral appeal − reasons for the way people act (focus groups) − explanations and answers for questions raised by the evidence − credibility evidence −disinterested witness −witness had a chance to perceive −denial of bias −background

14. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • WHAT TO EXCLUDE − clutter − unprovables − implausibles − impeachables − door openers

15. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • PLACEMENT and SEQUENCING OF INFORMATION TO HEIGHTEN AND CLARIFY ITS VALUE − primacy and recency - what people believe first v. last heard − apposition- juxtaposing important facts to emphasize their relationship (good v. bad) − duration -vary by importance − repetition -sign posts

16. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • STRUCTURE − start and end strong − chronological vs. topical organization − do not interrupt the action − give separate attention to details − try not to scatter circumstantial evidence − defensive direct where appropriate − affirmative before refutation − get to the point − end with a clincher

17. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • CONTROL − avoid leading questions − avoid overbroad or narrative questions − short open questions − “frames”, a new beginning − reticent witness − run-on witness

18. QUESTIONING TECHNIQUES -use incremental questions − use pace, manner of questioning and imagery to reflect time, distance and intensity − use demonstrative exhibits − looping − use present tense

19. DIRECT EXAM:Planning and Organization • QUESTIONING TECHNIQUE − short, open questions − direct and transitional questions − reinitiate primacy general headline questions explain where you are going use body movement DON’T BE SUCH A LAWYER!

20. The End