542:, some states have expressly limited the use of leading questions on re-direct. As a practical matter, it rests within the trial court's discretion as to what leading questions may be asked on re-direct. Generally speaking, leading questions will be more liberally permitted on re-direct in order to establish a foundation and call the attention of the witness to specific testimony elicited on cross examination. Additionally, on re-direct, an interrogator will often ask questions which specifically seek to elicit whether an inference resulting from questioning on cross examinations is accurate. Although these type of questions will likely result in a "yes" or "no" response, they are properly understood to be direct questions, not leading questions, and are permissible.
480:
Leading question: "Mr. Smith's car was traveling 20 miles over the speed limit when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the victim's car, right?" (Leads the witness to the conclusion that Mr. Smith was speeding, and as a result lost control of his vehicle, leading to the accident, which
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is a question that suggests a particular answer and contains information the examiner is looking to have confirmed. The use of leading questions in court to elicit testimony is restricted in order to reduce the ability of the examiner to direct or influence the evidence presented. Depending on the
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of friendly witnesses with respect to preliminary matters that are necessary to provide background or context, and which are not in dispute; for example, a witness's employment or education. Leading questions may also be permitted on direct examination when a witness requires special handling, for
522:
Leading questions are the primary mode of examination of witnesses who are hostile to the examining party, and are not objectionable in that context. Examination of hostile witnesses usually takes place on cross-examination. As the rule recognizes, the examination of a "hostile witness, an adverse
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Leading questions should not be used on the direct examination of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness' testimony. Ordinarily leading questions should be permitted on cross-examination. When a party calls a hostile witness, an adverse party, or a witness identified with an
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Cairns-Lee, Lawley & Tosey have reviewed the role of leading questions in research interviews and proposed a typology and a 'cleanness rating' to facilitate researchers to review and assess the influence of their interview questions.
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Even neutral questions can lead witnesses to answers based on word choice, response framing, assumptions made, and form. The words "fast", "collision" and "How", for example, can alter speed estimates provided by respondents.
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the witness through leading questions. Courts may also cite the various editions of McCormick's and
Wigmore's treatises on evidence to answer whether a closed-ended question is inherently leading.
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The propriety of leading questions generally depends on the relationship of the witness to the party conducting the examination. An examiner may generally ask leading questions of a
128:
434:("Will help to elicit the testimony of a witness who, due to age, incapacity, or limited intelligence, is having difficulty communicating their evidence"), but not on
445:, a leading question is a "question that suggests the answer to the person being interrogated; esp., a question that may be answered by a mere 'yes' or 'no'."
702:
Cairns-Lee, Heather; Lawley, James; Tosey, Paul (2022). "Enhancing researcher reflexivity about the influence of leading questions in interviews".
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to the examiner, or reluctant or unwilling to testify, in which situation the witness is unlikely to accept being "coached" by the questioner.
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party, or a witness identified with an adverse party" will sometimes take place on direct examination, and leading questions are permitted.
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513:, which themselves relate closely to the common-law mode of examination. Rule 611(c) of the Federal Rules of Evidence provides that:
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Although Rule 611(c) of the
Federal Rules of Evidence (and comparable rules of many states) do not prohibit leading questions on
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181:
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Ehrhardt, Charles W.; Young, Stephanie J. (1995). "Using
Leading Questions during Direct Examination".
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When someone asks a leading question, they expect the other person to agree with the leading question.
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Neutral question: "How fast would you estimate Mr. Smith's car was traveling before the collision?"
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Melilli, Kenneth J. (2003). "Leading
Questions on Direct Examination: A More Pragmatic Approach".
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Where the memory of the witness has been exhausted and there is still information to be elicited.
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example a child. However, the court must take care to be sure that the examining attorney is not
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Foster, Stephen
William (December 2013). "What Is "the Question"?: What Is "the Question"?".
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469:(such as "Have you stopped beating your wife?" indirectly asserting that the subject both
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Exceptions to general restrictions against leading questions may arise,
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674:"LEADING QUESTION Definition & Meaning - Black's Law Dictionary"
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754:"Eyewitness testimony: The influence of the wording of a question"
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They expect the answer to agree that the sandwiches are the best.
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circumstances, leading questions can be objectionable or proper.
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In practice, judges will sometimes permit leading questions on
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adverse party, interrogation may be by leading questions.
438:(to "coach" the witness to provide a particular answer).
30:
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752:Loftus, Elizabeth F.; Zanni, Guido (January 1975).
461:are leading). Leading questions are distinct from
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465:, which are objectionable because they contain
494:"Our company has the best sandwiches, right?"
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16:Question that suggests a particular answer
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509:, many states model their rules on the
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684:from the original on 2023-10-11
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314:Declaration against interest
182:Self-authenticating document
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477:beaten her at some point).
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785:Jeter, Lisa (2021-09-07).
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814:Federal Rules of Evidence
727:Anthropology and Humanism
712:10.1177/00218863211037446
570:Fallacy of many questions
511:Federal Rules of Evidence
192:Hague Evidence Convention
81:Eyewitness identification
481:was clearly his fault.)
319:Present sense impression
129:Public policy exclusions
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443:Black's Law Dictionary
96:Consciousness of guilt
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245:Recorded recollection
467:implicit assumptions
279:in United States law
650:"Leading Questions"
585:Suggestive question
119:Laying a foundation
771:10.3758/BF03336715
739:10.1111/anhu.12015
706:. 58(1): 164–188.
678:The Law Dictionary
551:witness is hostile
528:direct examination
436:direct examination
375:trusts and estates
255:Dead Man's Statute
220:Direct examination
177:Best evidence rule
830:Legal terminology
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299:Dying declaration
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794:. Retrieved
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764:(1): 86–88.
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235:Impeachment
124:Materiality
71:Inculpatory
66:Exculpatory
51:Documentary
796:2022-11-27
688:2023-10-11
659:2022-11-21
592:References
549:Where the
346:common law
325:Res gestae
210:Competence
134:Spoliation
540:re-direct
215:Privilege
201:Witnesses
139:Character
105:Relevance
46:Testimony
824:Category
682:Archived
564:See also
533:coaching
507:evidence
366:Property
356:Contract
230:Redirect
23:Evidence
654:Findlaw
453:Example
264:Hearsay
61:Digital
638:: 401.
616:: 155.
430:or on
344:Other
33:series
371:Wills
348:areas
144:Habit
361:Tort
91:Lies
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31:law
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