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Cross-Examination on Trial

NCJ Number
114644
Author(s)
A J Wolf
Date Published
1988
Length
497 pages
Annotation
This comprehensive discussion of cross-examination covers the logic of cross-examination in the courtroom.
Abstract
The discussion of the logic of cross-examination covers the essence of cross-examination, the development of a cross-examination plan, basic cross-examination techniques, making and responding to objections, pretrial discovery and investigation, and the decision not to cross-examine. The second major section of the book consists mainly of cross-examinations excerpted from some noteworthy cases of this era to illustrate various principles of cross-examination. Cross-examination in a civil Racketeer-Influenced-and-Corrupt-Organizations-Act case is used to show the importance of developing a theme in cross-examination, and the cross-examination of defense and prosecution psychiatrists in the Patricia Hearst case is used to illustrate the importance of cross-examiners knowing the subject at issue. The cross-examination of an undercover drug agent is used to show how to highlight a testimony's implausibility. Cross-examination in libel cases is taken from the Sharon v. Time and Westmoreland v. CBS trials. The creation of a sense of unfairness is illustrated in the development of an 'us-versus-them' mentality in cross-examination in the case of the battle over Getty Oil. Handling the honest witness is demonstrated from cross-examination in the Goetz trial. Other techniques illustrated are how to obtain affirmative statements from a witness and how to break down a witness. Subject index.

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