Objections Cheatsheet

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Generally

☐ Irrelevance (see Relevance) ☐ Eliciting evidence supporting a Motion not before the Court ☐ No foundation/Assumes facts not proven ☐ Improperly Phrased Questions ☐ Compound Question ☐ Vague/Misleading question ☐ Misquoting prior evidence/statement ☐ Uncivil Questions ☐ Asked and answered ☐ Badgering, harassing witness ☐ arguing with witness ☐ Monologuing/Editorizating ☐ Contradicting Collateral Facts (see Collateral Fact Rule) ☐ Evidence that generally is inadmissible ☐ Hearsay ☐ Asking witness for expert opinion ☐ Eliciting Privileged information (see Solicitor-Client Privilege; Informer Privilege; Litigation Privilege) ☐ Eliciting evidence outside of incident ☐ a prior consistent statement as "oath helping" (see Prior Consistent Statements) ☐ Character of accused not admissible unless accused put his character in issue (see Character of Accused) ☐ Character of victim presumed not relevant unless "probative value outweighs its prejudicial effect" (see Character of Non-Accused Persons) On Direct Only ☐ Leading Question (on examination-in-chief only) Only On Cross (or as Hostile Direct)

On Sexual Assault Cases

Prior Sexual History

• ☐ Sexual contact with anyone, except contact at issue in trial

Sexual Assault Myths

• Failure of the complainant to "fight back"
• Failure of the complainant to "scream" or "call for help"
• Failure of the complainant to report the assault in a timely manner

On Calling Counter-Evidence

• Failure to confront opposing witness with counter-story (Rule in Browne v Dunn)