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Direct Examination: Table of Contents

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Part IX: Direct Examination

• THEORY OF THE CASE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
  • LAST THINGS FIRST……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
  • STORY TO TELL……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
  • APPEARANCES COUNT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
  • ADVISE EACH WITNESS OF HOW HE OR SHE FITS IN “BIG PICTURE”……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
  • WITNESS NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE COUNTER ATTACK……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
  • THE “REAL EVIDENCE” IS NOT ALWAYS TESTIMONIAL……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
  • ANTICIPATING IMPEACHMENT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
  • DISCOVERY OF YOUR WITNESS’ STATEMENTS IN THE PROSECUTOR’S POSSESSION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
  • DISCOVERING THE DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
  • WRITINGS OR TAPE RECORDINGS OF THE DEFENDANT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
  • SPONTANEOUS ADMISSIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
  • DEFENDANT’S ORAL STATEMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
  • SUMMARIES OF INTERVIEWS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
  • AGENT’S ROUGH NOTES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
  • DEFENDANT’S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
  • CORPORATE OFFICERS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
  • SANCTIONS [RULE 16(d)(2)]……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
  • DEFENSE WITNESS’ STATEMENT TAKEN BY OR GIVEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
  • PRETRIAL DISCLOSURE OF “EXCULPATORY” EVIDENCE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
  • RECIPROCAL DISCOVERY………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
  • STATEMENTS OF YOUR WITNESSES MAY BE DISCOVERABLE BY PROSECUTION [FED. R. P. Rule 26.2]……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
  • SANCTIONS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
  • IMPEACHMENT BY EVIDENCE OF CONVICTION OF CRIME [FED. R. EVID. RULE 609]……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
  • REMOTENESS [FED. EVID. RULE 609(b)]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
  • FINALITY OF CONVICTION [FED. EVID. RULE 609(c)]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
  • DETAILS OF OFFENSE ARE INADMISSIBLE………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
  • EFFECT OF PARDON, ANNULMENT OR CERTIFICATION OF REHABILITATION [FED. EVID. Rule 609(c)]……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
  • DISTINCTION BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
• MOTION TO COMPEL DISCLOSURE OF………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
• MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO COMPEL………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
  • STATEMENT OF FACTS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
  • ARGUMENT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
• IMPEACHING YOUR OWN WITNESS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
  • WHO MAY IMPEACH [FED. EVID. RULE 607]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
  • LEADING YOUR OWN WITNESS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
    • LEADING QUESTIONS [FED. EVID. RULE 611(c)]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
• TESTIMONY ON DIRECT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
  • RENDERING EXCLUDED ILLEGALLY………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
  • LEADING HOSTILE AND ADVERSE WITNESSES………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
  • MODE OF INTERROGATION [FED. EVID. RULE 611]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
  • SCOPE OF EXAMINATION [FED. EVID. RULE 611(b)]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
  • REFRESHING YOUR WITNESS’ RECOLLECTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
  • OPINION ON ULTIMATE ISSUE [FED. EVID. RULE 704]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21
  • IMPEACHMENT BY PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT [FED. R. EVID. RULE 801(d)(1)(A)]……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21
  • CHARTS OR SUMMARIES OF VOLUMINOUS WRITINGS, RECORDINGS OR PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH CANNOT BE CONVENIENTLY EXAMINED IN COURT MAY BE “PRESENTED” IN THE FORM OF A CHART, SUMMARY, OR CALCULATION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21
  • UNDERLYING DOCUMENTS MUST BE VOLUMINOUS AND IN-COURT EXAMINATION MUST BE INCONVENIENT……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
  • NOT REQUIRED THAT UNDERLYING DOCUMENTS THEMSELVES BE RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE SUMMARIES BUT ONLY THAT THEY BE “AVAILABLE”……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
  • UNDER RULE 1006, CHART OR SUMMARY MAY BE CONSIDERED AS EVIDENCE RATHER THAN A MERE JURY AID……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
  • BUT CHART STILL REQUIRED TO E ACCURATE, AUTHENTIC AND PROPERLY INTRODUCED BEFORE ADMISSION UNDER RULE 1006……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
  • SUMMARY OF PURELY TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE MAY ALSO BE UTILIZED AS A JURY AID WITH LIMITING INSTRUCTION THAT IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS EVIDENCE……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
  • CHARACTER EVIDENCE NOT ADMISSIBLE TO PROVE CONDUCT [FED. R. EVID. RULE 404]……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
• CHARACTER OF ACCUSED………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
  • OFFERED BY ACCUSED………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
  • OFFERED BY PROSECUTION TO REBUT SAME………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
• CHARACTER OF VICTIM [FED. EVID. RULE 404(a)(2)]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
  • OTHER CRIMES EVIDENCE………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
  • MOTIVE………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
  • INTENT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
  • RELEVANCY………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
  • BALANCING TEST………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
  • KNOWLEDGE………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
  • IDENTITY………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
  • FLIGHT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
  • REBUT A DEFENSE THEORY………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
  • PREDISPOSITION………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
  • ORDER OF PROOF………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
  • REMOVING ISSUE………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
  • DISCOVERY OF EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
• METHODS OF PROVING CHARACTER [FED. R. Rule 405]………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
  • REPURATION OR OPINION………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
  • SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CONDUCT………………………………………………. 28
• PROOF OF CHARACTER [FED. RULES RULES 405(a) AND 608(a)]……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
  • BY REPUTATION TESTIMONY………………………………………………………… 28
  • BY OPINION TESTIMONY………………………………………………………………… 29
  • LIMITATIONS ON CROSS-EXAMINATION OF CHARACTER EVIDENCE………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
  • OPENING UP CHARACTER GENERALLY………………………………………… 31
  • RULE OF COMPLETENESS [FED. EVID. RULE 106]…………………….. 31
  • REMAINDERS OF OR RELATED WRITINGS OR RECORDED STATEMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………… 31
• GETTING YOUR WITNESS TO THE COURTHOUSE…………………………. 32
• OFFERS OF PROOF [FED. EVID. RULE 103(a)(2)]…………………………. 32
• LAYING THE PROPER PREDICATE…………………………………………………. 33
  • PHOTOGRAPH EVIDENCE……………………………………………………………….. 33
  • SOUND RECORDINGS……………………………………………………………………… 34