Can Lawyers Ask Yes or No Questions?
Yes, lawyers can ask yes or no questions. However, the answers to these questions may not always be straightforward. Lawyers may ask yes or no questions to elicit more information from a witness or to establish a certain point.
In a courtroom setting, lawyers are not allowed to ask leading questions. A leading question is one that suggests an answer. For example, a lawyer may not ask a witness, “Did you steal the money?” Instead, the lawyer must ask an open-ended question such as, “What did you do with the money?”
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. If your answer was not correctly stated, correct it immediately. If your answer was not clear, clarify it immediately.
In addition, lawyers may ask yes or no questions to establish the credibility of a witness. For example, a lawyer may ask a witness, “Did you tell the truth when you testified?” This question is designed to establish the witness’s credibility.
Yes or no questions can also be used to establish a timeline of events. For example, a lawyer may ask a witness, “Did you meet with the defendant on March 3, 2014?” This question is designed to establish a timeline of events.
Finally, yes or no questions can be used to establish the facts of a case. For example, a lawyer may ask a witness, “Did you see the defendant hit the victim?” This question is designed to establish the facts of the case.
In conclusion, lawyers can ask yes or no questions. However, the answers to these questions may not always be straightforward. 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. If your answer was not correctly stated, correct it immediately. If your answer was not clear, clarify it immediately.
