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Simple English definitions for legal terms
direct examination
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A quick definition of direct examination:
Direct examination is when a lawyer asks questions to a witness who has been called to the stand. The lawyer who called the witness is the one who does the direct examination. During this time, the lawyer cannot ask leading questions, which means they cannot suggest the answer to the witness. After the direct examination, the other lawyer has a chance to ask questions in what is called cross-examination. They can only ask about things that were talked about during the direct examination.
A more thorough explanation:
Direct examination
Direct examination is when a lawyer asks questions to a witness who has been called to the stand by the same lawyer. During direct examination, the lawyer is not allowed to ask leading questions unless there is a specific reason to do so. After direct examination, the other lawyer has a chance to ask questions during cross-examination, but they can only ask about things that were talked about during direct examination.
During a trial, a lawyer might call a witness to the stand to testify about what they saw or heard. The lawyer will ask the witness questions about what happened, and the witness will answer. This is direct examination. For example, if a witness saw a car accident, the lawyer might ask them questions like "What did you see?" or "What happened next?"
Another example of direct examination might be in a divorce case. One spouse might call a witness to testify about something that happened during the marriage. The lawyer will ask the witness questions about what they saw or heard, and the witness will answer. This is also direct examination.
These examples illustrate how direct examination works in a trial or court case. The lawyer who calls the witness to the stand is the one who asks questions during direct examination. The purpose of direct examination is to get information from the witness that supports the lawyer's case.