Choosing Witnesses for Your Court Cases

When it comes to having a successful outcome in your court case, one of the major factors is the witnesses that appear. The problem is that not every witness is a good witness. Many people are hesitant to appear in court out of a lack of familiarity with the legal system and require prepping before appearing in court.

Here at Fitch & Stahle Law Office, our criminal lawyer understands what makes a good witness, as well as how to properly prep a witness. With decades of experience working in the Sioux City, NE, and IA court systems, our lawyers are ready to stand by your side in court and fight for your rights.

What Makes a Good Witness

A witness can either help build a client’s case, break down the case of the other side, or both. Here are some traits of a good witness:

• Refresh Their Memory: First, a witness should attempt to picture the scene, the people and objects there, and exactly what happened. Memory can be faulty, and so before the trial, ensure that your witnesses know exactly what happened at the scene.
• The Importance of Appearance: A good witness will have a neat appearance and proper dress. Inappropriate dress or impolite manner will distract the jury and can make them disregard the witness’s testimony.
• Speak Clearly: The witness should present their testimony clearly, slowly, and loud enough so that every juror can hear it. Avoid things like chewing gum when testifying.

What Are the Types of Witness Testimony?

There are three main types of witnesses. They are:

• Lay Witness: The most common type of witness, a lay witness is a person who watched the events and describes what they saw.
• Expert Witness: Someone who specializes in a certain area. They testify with respect to this specialty area.
• Character Witness: Someone who knew the victim, the defendant, or other people who are involved in the case. While they don’t usually see the crime take place, a character witness is useful because they can give testimony relating to the character of the defendant or the victim.

How to Prep Witnesses

To ensure success of the case, witnesses must be properly prepared to give their testimony. Make sure that the witness reads documents authored by the witness that might end up becoming exhibits or that could potentially be used on cross-examination. The witness should also understand the questions that are likely to be asked during the cross-examination. They should know how to answer those questions without volunteering additional information. Above all, the witnesses should tell the truth.

Certain witnesses may need to be informed about behaviors that could undermine their credibility and likability. These can include an arrogant and condescending attitude, displays of anger, and disrespectful treatment of others.

Sioux City Personal Injury Attorney

At Fitch & Stahle Law Office, our personal injury lawyer understands the importance of having quality witnesses for your case. With our quality attorneys at your side, you can rest assured that your rights are being protected and fought for.

Contact our law firm at 402-494-3012 today.