when an opposing attorney is asking questions is it only yes or no questions

by Monty Hessel 3 min read

They are leading questions. Questions that only call for a 'yes' or 'no' answer. They have only one fact per question. None of those questions call for any explanation. If done correctly, the opposing attorney should never ask you a question that allows you to explain ANYTHING.

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What kind of questions can the opposing attorney not ask?

Questions that only call for a 'yes' or 'no' answer. They have only one fact per question. None of those questions call for any explanation. If done correctly, the opposing attorney should never ask you a question that allows you to explain ANYTHING. If he does, he loses control of the questioning and the jury then focuses their attention back on YOU.

How do you answer yes and no questions in court?

Your attorney may ask questions of you during the deposition, but typically your attorney will only ask questions of you in order to clarify a confusing answer. Like opposing counsel, your attorney may schedule and take depositions to help build your case.

How do you answer I don’t know in a question?

Dec 19, 2013 · The Illinois Rules of Evidence provide that only relevant evidence is admissible and will be considered by the Judge. Irrelevant evidence will not be considered by the Judge. Therefore, an opposing attorney can only ask you questions that are relevant to the issues in your case. Rule 401 of the Illinois Rules of Evidence defines “relevant evidence “ as “evidence having …

Is it illegal for a witness to answer a question?

Answer (1 of 7): Of course they “can.” They just open your mouth and ask the question. Instead of using the imprecise word “can” you might try “may” or “Is a witnes allowed by Court rules . . .” Certain questions will get a positive response, such as …

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Can lawyers only ask yes or no questions?

The court may order to answer yes/no first before the explanation. The explanation must be relevant to the yes/no answer. The court usually will not allow the witness to wander away from the question that was asked. It is also possible that a seeming yes/no question doesn't have a yes/no answer.

How do you avoid a yes or no question in court?

Give the answer in your own words, and if a question can't be truthfully answered with a “yes” or “no” answer, explain the answer. If an attorney demands a “yes” or “no” answer and you can not give one, let the judge know that, and explain that to do so would be misleading to the court or inaccurate.Mar 3, 2014

Do I have to answer a lawyers questions?

If you CHOOSE NOT to answer his questions, you will likely have to withdraw that part of your claim from your lawsuit. If you CHOOSE NOT to answer his questions or if you refuse to answer selected questions, the defense lawyer will ask the judge to force you or compel you to answer them.

What do you say if you don't want to answer a question in court?

If your answer was not correctly stated, correct or clarify it immediately. Don't say, "that's all of the conversation" or "nothing else happened." Instead say, "that's all I recall" or "that's all I remember happening." It may be that after more thought or another question, you may remember something important.

Why can lawyers only ask questions?

When a lawyer calls an adverse or hostile witness (a witness whose relationship to the lawyer's client is such that his testimony is likely to be prejudicial) on direct examination, the lawyer can ask leading questions as on cross-examination.Sep 9, 2019

Can you ask yes or no questions on direct examination?

As a general rule, do not ask leading questions - questions which contain within them the answer, suggest the answer or call for a yes or no answer - or your direct will be interrupted with sustained objections.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

How do lawyers ask questions?

0:165:25How to ask questions like a lawyer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing isMoreThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing is making statements. That sound like questions and those are statements that the witness.

How do you fight a case without a lawyer?

You have the right to fight your own cases without engaging any advocate. It is not necessary that you must engage an advocate to fight your case in a court. A party in person is allowed to fight his own case in the court. That said, you should be aware of certain difficulties that you may face.Jul 9, 2015

What does it mean to plead the 5th Amendment?

To "plead the Fifth" means you have the right not to answer police questions both while in custody or in court. The right against self-incrimination is spelled out in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and also extends to state and local jurisdictions.Dec 29, 2021

What do you call someone who avoids answering questions?

Noun: Narcissist/Bigot/Fool. Often this is a sign that person is a narcissist (personal questions) , or maybe hiding something(social/political/economic questions) , either something that they don't want shared or that they are ignorant or uneducated about the topic (any knowledge/calculation/logic related questions)

How do I decline a question answer?

Good ways to say anything but "No Comment" to questions you really don't want to answer:"I'm sorry but I'm not able to speak to that subject""Thanks for asking but I'm not able to answer that question""I'm sorry but that information is proprietary"Jul 17, 2008