Fundamentals of Texas Trial Practice

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CHAPTER 1. TRIAL PREPARATION 1.01. KEY TO EFFECTIVENESS 1.01.1. Knowledge 1.01.2. Confidence 1.02. PREPARATION MUST BE FOCUSED 1.02.1. Your Theory 1.02.2. Your Opponent’s Theory (a) Pleadings (b) Pre-Trial Discovery (c) Anticipating Opponent 1.03. FUNDAMENTAL STEPS OF TRIAL PREPARATION 1.03.1. Preliminary Investigation (a) Factual (b) Legal 1.03.2. Develop Theory of Case (a) Supported by the Law (b) Supported by Admissible Evidence (c) Capable of Brief Description 1.03.3. Prepare and File Pleadings 1.03.4. Formal Discovery 1.03.5. Amend Pleadings 1.03.6. Prepare for Trial (a) Prepare Court’s Charge to Jury (b) Prepare Proof Chart (c) Prepare Closing Argument (d) Prepare Opening Statement (e) Prepare Trial Notebook (f) Plan Strategy CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 2. OBJECTIONS 2.01. MEANING AND PURPOSE OF OBJECTION 2.02. TEXAS RULES OF EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE 2.02.1. Rule of Evidence 104(a) 2.02.2. Rule of Evidence 103(a) 2.02.3. Rule of Appellate Procedure 33.1. 2.03. PRE-TRIAL OBJECTIONS 2.03.1. Motions to Suppress Evidence 2.03.2. Motions in Limine 2.04. TRIAL OBJECTIONS 2.04.1. When To Object (a) Be Selective and Effective (b) Know What Is Objectionable (c) Recognize What Is Objectionable (d) Assess Effect of Impropriety 2.04.2. How To Object (a) Stand (b) Announce "Objection" (c) Be Timely (d) Address the Court (e) Be Specific (1) Assert Legal Ground (2) Be Assertive and Accusatory (3) Use Rifle, Not Shotgun (4) A General Objection Is No Objection (5) Be Precise and Succinct (a) In General (b) Include the Jury (c) Renew Pre-Trial Objections (d) Continuing Objections (f) Obtain Ruling and Request Relief (g) Reacting to Unfavorable Ruling 2.04.3. Responding to Objections (a) When to Respond (b) How to Respond (1) Stand (2) Request to be Heard (3) Address the Court (4) Be Prepared (5) Be Specific and Succinct 2.04.4. Making Offer of Proof (a) Informal Offer (b) Formal Offer CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 3. JURY SELECTION 3.01. IN GENERAL 3.01.1. Voir Dire Examination 3.0l.2. Purpose of Jury Selection 3.01.3. "Shuffle" 3.02. FUNDAMENTALS OF VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION 3.02.l. Introduce Yourself and Your Client 3.02.2. Introduce the Case 3.02.3. Inquire About Knowledge of People 3.02.4. Inquire About Knowledge of Event 3.02.5. Inquire About Acceptance of Law 3.02.6. Inquire About Personal Experiences 3.02.7. Inquire About Evidence 3.02.8. Inquire About Relief or Remedy 3.02.9. Give Meaning to Silence 3.02.10. Don’t Ask About "Bias" or "Prejudice" 3.02.11. Don’t Try to Reform People 3.02.12. Don’t Ask Leading Questions 3.02.13. Don’t Comment on Responses 3.02.14. Take Notes 3.02.15. Be Relaxed and Friendly (a) Be Relaxed (b) Be Friendly 3.02.16. Use Juror Information Forms Effectively 3.02.17. Never Assume Anything 3.02.18. "Mother Hubbard" or "Drag Net" Questions 3.02.19. Use Intuition 3.02.20. Exercising Challenges (a) Challenges for Cause (b) Peremptory Challenges CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 4. OPENING STATEMENT 4.01. CONTENT AND MAKING 4.01.1. Content 4.01.2. When Made 4.02. TELL THE JURY YOUR THEORY 4.03. STATE FACTS EXPECTED TO BE PROVED 4.03.1. Be Simple and Brief 4.03.2. Use a Theme 4.03.3. Be Logical 4.03.4. Do Not Be Argumentative 4.03.5. Do Not Overstate Your Case 4.03.6. Use Visual Aids 4.03.7. Be Organized (a) "I Expect the Evidence Will Prove (b) Describe the Event (c) Describe the Scene (d) Describe Result of Event (e) Introduce Parties and Principal Witnesses (f) Anticipate Opponent’s Theory (g) State Relief Sought 4.04. DELIVERY 4.04.l. Be Natural and Relaxed 4.04.2. Do Not Use Notes 4.04.3. Do Not Use a Lectern 4.04.4. Do Not Create Distractions 4.04.5. Control Speech 4.04.6. Optimum Location CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 5. DIRECT EXAMINATION 5.01. PURPOSE OF DIRECT EXAMINATION 5.02. CALLING WITNESSES 5.02.1. Call the Witness 5.02.2. Wait for Witness To Be Sworn 5.03. FUNDAMENTALS OF DIRECT EXAMINATION 5.03.1. Prepare Questions 5.03.2. Prepare Witnesses 5.03.3. Introduce the Witness 5.03.4. Be Simple and Brief 5.03.5. Have a Coherent Organization (a) Fact (Lay) Witnesses (b) Opinion (Expert) Witnesses 5.03.6. Describe the Scene 5.03.7. Describe the Event 5.03.8. Use Non-Leading, Open-Ended Questions 5.03.9. Listen and Clarify 5.03.10. Examine From Counsel Table 5.03.11. Refreshing Recollection 5.03.12. Past Recollection Recorded 5.04. REDIRECT EXAMINATION CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 6. CROSS-EXAMINATION 6.01. NATURE OF CROSS-EXAMINATION 6.02. PURPOSES OF CROSS-EXAMINATION 6.03. PREPARATION FOR CROSS-EXAMINATION 6.04. DETERMINE NEED 6.05. FUNDAMENTALS OF CROSS-EXAMINATION 6.05.1. Be Brief and Simple (a) Brevity (b) Simplicity 6.05.2. Control the Witness (a) Leading Questions (b) Make Witness Be Responsive 6.05.3. Examine Topically 6.05.4. Use Finesse 6.05.5. Examine On Facts, Not Conclusions 6.05.6. Listen and Observe 6.05.7. Be Prepared for Wrong Answer 6.05.8. Don’t Ruin a Right Answer CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 7. EXHIBITS 7.01. INTRODUCTION 7.02. EXHIBIT MUST BE AUTHENTIC AND RELEVANT 7.03. PLANNING USE OF EXHIBITS 7.04. HOW TO GET AN EXHIBIT ADMITTED 7.04.1. Have Exhibit Marked 7.04.2. Show Exhibit to Opposing Counsel 7.04.3. Request Leave of Court to Approach Witness 7.04.4. Hand or Display Exhibit to Witness 7.04.5. Have Witness Authenticate and Identify Exhibit 7.04.6. Offer the Exhibit 7.04.7. Request Leave to "Publish" Exhibit 7.04.8. Publish Exhibit 7.04.9. Keep Chart of Exhibits 7.05. KINDS OF EXHIBITS AND THEIR AUTHENTICATION REQUIREMENTS 7.05.1. Real Evidence (a) Meaning (b) Foundation (c) Writings (d) Business and Public Records 7.05.2. Demonstrative or Illustrative Evidence (a) Meaning (b) Foundation (c) Use (d) Silent-Witness Exhibits 7.06. EXHIBITS SHOULD BE CREDIBLE AND PERSUASIVE CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 8. IMPEACHMENT AND REHABILITATION 8.01. IMPEACHMENT 8.01.1. Meaning 8.01.2. Requirements (a) Good Faith (b) Raise on Cross-Examination (c) Extrinsic Evidence of Noncollateral Fact (d) When Extrinsic Evidence May Be Presented 8.01.3. Fundamental Considerations (a) Determine Need (b) Focus on Mistakes (c) Get Favorable Testimony First 8.01.4. Bases of Impeachment (a) Impaired Perception or Recall (b) Bias or Interest (c) Prior Conviction (d) Prior Bad Acts (e) Prior Inconsistent Statements (1) Suggested Technique (2) Forms of Prior Inconsistent Statements (a) Oral (b) Written (c) Pleadings and Discovery of Party Witness (d) Prior Testimony of Witness (f) Omissions (g) Reputation or Opinion Testimony of Character (h) Impeachment of Expert With Learned Treatise (i) Impeachment by Contradiction (j) Impeachment by Prior Inconsistent Conduct 8.01.5. Extrinsic Evidence of Impeaching Fact 8.02. REHABILITATION 8.02.1. Have Witness Give Explanation 8.02.2. Prior Consistent Statement 8.02.3. "Rule of Completeness" 8.02.4. Character Evidence for Truthfulness 8.02.5. Avoid Bolstering CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 9. EXPERT WITNESSES 9.01. NEED FOR EXPERT TESTIMONY 9.02. ADMISSIBILITY OF EXPERT TESTIMONY 9.03. PURPOSES OF EXPERT TESTIMONY 9.03.1. Provide Factual Information 9.03.2. Give Opinion 9.03.3. Provide Scientific Information 9.03.4. Give Contradictory Opinion 9.04. PREPARATION FOR USE OF EXPERT TESTIMONY 9.04.1. Attorney’s Preparation (a) Knowledge of Specialized Field (b) Knowledge of Witness 9.04.2. Witness’s Preparation (a) Apprise Witness of Evidence (b) Instruct Witness on Being a Witness 9.05. QUALIFYING WITNESS AS EXPERT 9.05.1. Academic Credentials (a) Be Brief and Discreet (b) Be Sequential 9.05.2. Practical Experience 9.06. DIRECT EXAMINATION OF EXPERT 9.06.1. Make Witness Credible 9.06.2. Make Witness Likable 9.06.3. Make Witness Understandable (a) Common Language (b) Definitions (c) Analogies (d) Demonstrative Devices 9.06.4. Listen to Witness 9.06.5. Control Witness 9.06.6. Preempt Cross-Examination 9.06.7. Let Witness Testify 9.06.8. Use One Expert Per Subject 9.06.9. Disclose Compensation 9.06.10. Methodology of Examination (a) Preliminary Basis of Opinion (b) Opinion (c) Ultimate Bases of Opinion (d) Explanation of Opinion 9.06.11. Use Learned Treatise to Support Witness 9.07. CROSS-EXAMINATION OF EXPERT 9.07.1. Be Prepared 9.07.2. Delimit Witness’s Expertise 9.07.3. Witness Has No Practical Experience 9.07.4. Elicit Favorable Facts 9.07.5. Identify Foundational Facts 9.07.6. Have Witness Divert Blame 9.07.7. Show That Witness Has Bias 9.07.8. Impeach With Learned Treatise 9.07.9. Use Leading Questions 9.08. TENDERING WITNESS AS EXPERT 9.08.1. Ask Court to Make Finding 9.08.2. Ask Question and Wait for Objection 9.08.3. Stipulation 9.09. RECENT DECISIONS ON ADMISSIBILITY OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE 9.10. DECISIONS ON ADMISSIBILITY OF NON-SCIENTIFIC EXPERT EVIDENCE CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 10. THE COURT’S CHARGE 10.01. FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 10.02. CONTENT OF CHARGE 10.02.1. Issues of Fact 10.02.2. Instructions of Law 10.02.3. Comment on Weight of Evidence 10.03. OBJECTIONS AND REQUESTS CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 11. CLOSING ARGUMENTS 11.01. PURPOSES OF CLOSING ARGUMENT 11.02. PLANNING CLOSING ARGUMENT 11.03. PERMISSIBLE SUBJECTS OF CLOSING ARGUMENT 11.04. STRUCTURE OF CLOSING ARGUMENT 11.04.1. Introduction 11.04.2. Key Issue(s) 11.04.3. Facts Proved 11.04.4. Evidence That Proves Facts 11.04.5. Law 11.04.6. Verdict Sought 11.04.7. Reasons for Verdict 11.05. FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 11.05.1. Project Image of Credibility 11.05.2. Be Simple, Logical and Brief 11.05.3. Argue Your Theory 11.05.4. Use Visual Aids 11.05.5. Be Positive About Your Burden 11.05.6. Refer to Opposing "Party" 11.05.7. Minimize Use of Notes 11.05.8. Delivery (a) Location (b) Eye Contact (c) Be Understood (d) Do Not Distract (e) Do Not Stand Behind Lectern 11.06. OPENING AND REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS CROSS-REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY

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