[blindLaw] Preparing for and taking notes on cross examinations

[Teresita Rios]

I love Trial Advocacy


For cross, Robb, is correct.
I wrote my cross ahead of time, because We have to be ready to impeach the
Witness (just in case)  so having page numbers, paragraph numbers and line
numbers  from the deposition and exhibits in all of my lines is super
important.
I have several docs opened.
One was a impeachment script, another was my cross, and another was my
exhibits and depositions. (all with headings and sub headings)

I just take notes of the opposing council's direct, if they addressed
interesting arguments I have not thought of or herd before.
My notes go on the top of my prepared cross,
I also used lots of headings too.
In cross I am just, trying to admit the key facts to build my Closing
arguments. So if in the process of doing that I can bring exhibits and
deposition facts that create doubts of the statements or motives or
character of the witness, that is only extra points.

So for redirect notes. I just added a deviding line with lots of
- (dashes)
Before the dash I have my fleshed out direct outline,
With headings, and a side (finder panel displaying the headlines) so i
always have access to an outline of my notes and I can jomp to any argument
I have

under the dashes I have my re direct., notes, try to think of arguments
ahead of time. But sometimes there are some new ones and the best part is
to not tuch those. Unless  you have a good defence or fact addressing that
point.

Work on an argument for closing though. But  focus only on your strongest
facts/exhibits that rebut what was directly addressed on Cross.

I only use my computer, and a screen reader with earbuds.
--
on the other hand, if I am taking notes on the cross of my partner?
then I write it on Word and (discreetly push my computer away from me to
let them read my notes from far away. use a 28 bold font. Haha.
You can also talk to them in whispers.

Attached you will find my  impeachment script.
Use transition lines to guide the jury and some closed question starters.

Best of luck, and have fun!
Teresita Rios


On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 8:14 AM Robert Munro via BlindLaw <
blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> The main thing I have found with cross examination is to prepare it in
> advance. Write down topics you want to address as headings and or
> subheadings. Then move through them while you’re doing your cross
> examination by jumping from heading to heading in case you want to take up
> topics in a different order than you wrote them down originally.
>
> As for taking notes, you might want to do that in a separate document in
> case you get aPerry Mason-style gift gift during the person’s testimony.
> You can’t count on that though. That’s why preparation is key.
>
> Onward!
>
> Rob
>
> > On Feb 9, 2022, at 22:51, Lauren Bishop via BlindLaw <
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > I forgot to mention that I have a braille display, and I have it always
> connected to my computer through Bluetooth so I can move around the quart
> room and still have my braille display.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Feb 9, 2022, at 10:48 PM, Lauren Bishop via BlindLaw <
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >> I am currently taking a trial advocacy course, and I have to do cross
> examinations next week. The professor mentioned using some sort of trial
> paper for students to take notes while the other side is examining the
> witness. As blind people, what are some methods that you have used to do
> this? I am a screen reader user, and I can’t read large print.
> >> Thanks,
> >> Lauren
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > BlindLaw mailing list
> > BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/r.g.munro%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/teresitarios22%40gmail.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Day 3 - Impeachment by Deposition Handout.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 21276 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/attachments/20220210/0670ac21/attachment.docx>