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If you’ve been in any trial, chances are you’ve heard “Objection, hearsay!” with a frequency that rivals the use of bad catchphrases in sitcoms. However, despite its repeated citation, hearsay remains one of the least understood rules in mock trial. Some of this can be attributed to the length of the rules discussing hearsay. Some is related to the complexity of the rules themselves. Personally, I blame its consistent misuse in legal dramas. Whatever the reason, it seem

Next time you are talking with a mocker, ask them what they remember most about a given trial. Chances are, you will hear about some zany witness or an epic closing. You might hear about an awesome judge (if the team won) or an idiotic judge (if the team lost). One thing you probably won’t hear: “Man, that lawyer absolutely crushed that direct.” It’s not surprising. On direct, a lawyer asks predetermined questions and let the witness put on a show. They are often perceiv

You calmly stroll up to the front of the courtroom and glance at the witness squirming on the stand. He doesn’t know what he’s in for—you have got the perfect set of questions to rip his story to shreds. You’re a shark in the water and he’s the beachgoer who’s swum too far from shore. You straighten your tie, give small thumbs up to your team, and launch into your cross. A couple minutes later, you slump down in your chair. How did he evade those questions? Why did I get