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What Stephen Colbert Can Teach Lawyers About Cross Examination
Cross examination is one of the more powerful tools at a lawyers disposal. Â It allows a lawyer to use leading questions to suggest the answer to the opposing witness. Â Knowing what admissions will help or hurt the case, a lawyer can tailor a series of leading questions designed to advance their clients interests. Â So what can Stephen Colbert teach a lawyer about cross-examination? Â The answer is a lot.
Many lawyers fail to use leading questions when cross examining. Â In failing to use this advantage lawyers let witnesses control the flow of information and potentially allow for more damaging answers to come out. Â Controlling a witness with leading questions can minimize this risk.
Few people use leading questions better than Stephen Colbert.  When interviewing his guests he often gets them to admit to ridiculous facts.  These ‘admissions’ are obtained through leading questions.  The guests often agree even when the substance of the admission is outrageous and not accurate.  You can click here to access Stephen’s Interviews and see how leading questions can lead to helpful (or in Stephen’s case, amusing) answers.
Tags: bc injury law, cross examination, Leading Questions, Stephen Colbert, Trial Skills
This site is created by MacIsaac & Company, a British Columbia Personal Injury Lawfirm. This website is not affiliated in any way with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).This web site is made possible through funding provided by the British Columbia law firm MacIsaac and Company. bc-injury-law.com is designed to empower individuals to better understand their ICBC Claim and the process involved in dealing with ICBC. This web site is offered for information only and is not claim-specific legal advice. Use of the site and sending or receiving information through it does not establish a solicitor / client relationship. Links to and from this website do not state or imply a relationship between MacIsaac and Company and the linked entity.
December 24th, 2010 at 9:49 am
[…] As previously discussed, cross examination is one of the most important tools in a trial lawyer’s arsenal. Â This tool can be used both during examination for discovery and trial. Â Cross examination can be used to explore and weaken an opponents case. Â Reasons for judgement were released this week by the BC Supreme Court, New Westminster Registry, harshly criticizing an RCMP officer and largely rejecting his injury claim based on evidence elicited during an extensive cross examination. […]