Marietta, GA personal injury attorney Michael R. Braun talks about the effectiveness of cross examining someone in the courtroom and his experience in various circumstances doing so. He explains that cross-examination is perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of a trial. It’s the moment when you, dare I say, assert your influence to help the jury understand that the person being cross-examined might not be presenting the complete picture. I hesitate to accuse them of falsehoods because often they are sharing their side of the story, and every story has multiple perspectives. However, cross-examination provides a valuable opportunity to present your case through the testimony of the opposing party. It truly can be the most gratifying part of the trial.

However, the foundation for effective cross-examination lies in thorough preparation. This involves conducting depositions, gaining knowledge about the facts that the witness will testify about. When dealing with an expert witness, it is especially crucial to fulfill your responsibilities beforehand and have a comprehensive understanding of the topics they will address. They possess expertise, knowledge of their case, and support for their arguments. Your task is to match their level of understanding, enabling you to ask relevant questions that align with your own perspectives and case themes.

Therefore, cross-examination follows an old adage in trial work: never ask a question if you don’t already know the answer. The answers you seek are all derived from the depositions taken in advance or the extensive preparation undertaken to ready yourself for cross-examination. Your aim is to become well-versed in every aspect of the case so that when you pose questions during cross-examination, you already have knowledge of the answers before they are even provided.