Mock trial vocabulary

Question 1

Improper opinion

Answer 1

Irrelevant opinion

Nurse says surgeon messed up; she’s a nurse she isn’t a surgeon how would she know opinion invalid

Question 2

Invention of facts

Answer 2

Making stuff up- you can’t change the facts

“I saw her w a knife” when she didn’t really have a knife

Question 3

Hearsay

Answer 3

Testifying to something you heard, but didn’t witness.

“She was at the store” you weren’t there your friend told you that

Question 4

Beyond the scope of cross or direct

Answer 4

Introduce new info on recross or redirect

Question 5

Irrelevant evidence

Answer 5

Not having to do w the case

(“What’s your vision?” “I got glasses in 3rd grade”

Question 6

Improper character

Answer 6

Trying to put yourself in a spot you have no business being in
(Testifying about a teachers class and how it should have been when you weren't that teacher.)

Question 7

Leading questions

Answer 7

Not allowed during direct but all questions during cross are leading.
“Do you go to st. Petes?”-leading
“What school do you go to?”-good

Question 8

Lack of personal knowledge

Answer 8

Saying you know something when you really don’t

“My eyesite is 20/40” but had no eye exam to tell you that

Question 9

Directs and redirects time

Answer 9

20 minutes

Question 10

Crosses and recrosses time

Answer 10

18 minutes

Question 11

Plaintiff rebuttal-

Answer 11

2 minutes (optional)

Question 12

Defendants closing argument time

Answer 12

5 minutes

Question 13

Plaintiffs closing argument time

Answer 13

5 minutes

Question 14

Preparation for closing argument time

Answer 14

2 minutes

Question 15

Defense opening statement time

Answer 15

4 minutes

Question 16

Plaintiffs opening statement time

Answer 16

4 minutes

Question 17

Order of stuff

Answer 17

Plaintiffsxo opening statement
Defense opening statement
Plaintiffs Direct, defenses Cross
Plaintiffs Redirect, defenses Recross (optional)
Defenses direct, plaintiffs cross
Defenses redirect, plaintiffs recross (optional)
Preparation for closing
Plaintiffs closing statement
Defendants closing statement
Plaintiff rebuttals (optional)