Legal Definitions - question

In a legal context, a question refers to an inquiry or request for information posed by an attorney or the court to an individual who is providing testimony, typically under oath. The primary purpose of a question is to elicit facts, clarify statements, or challenge previous testimony relevant to the legal proceedings.

• Example 1: During a criminal trial, the prosecutor asks a police officer on the stand, "Officer Miller, could you please describe what you observed when you arrived at the crime scene?"

  Explanation: This is a direct question from an attorney (the prosecutor) to a witness (the police officer) in court, seeking to obtain factual details about the events relevant to the case.

• Example 2: In a civil lawsuit concerning a property dispute, a lawyer conducting a deposition asks a neighbor, "Did you ever see construction work being performed on the disputed fence line before June of last year?"

  Explanation: Here, an attorney poses a question to a witness (the neighbor) during a pre-trial sworn testimony session (a deposition), aiming to discover information pertinent to the property boundaries.

• Example 3: During the cross-examination of a defendant in a fraud case, the opposing attorney asks, "Isn't it true that you personally signed the financial documents containing the incorrect figures?"

  Explanation: This demonstrates a question directed by an attorney to an opposing witness (the defendant) during a trial, often intended to challenge their previous statements or establish a specific fact.