BASIC RULES FOR THE

CROSS EXAMINATION OF
WITNESSES

Jose Luis Pacquiao

Andrea Ivanne D. Panganiban
________________________

GROUP 4
Legal Techniques
1) Prepare
2) Know your
Objective
3) Observe
Pacing and
Patience
4) Lead the
Witness
5) Have a
Style and
Adapt it to
the occasion
6) Know
when to
Quit
7) Know what
materials to
take to
confront the
Witness
8) Know
the Judge
More Basic Rules in
Cross Examination
RULE #1

Keep it SHORT
RULE #2

Every question you

ask should be a
“YES or NO”
RULE #3

Know the ANSWER

in advance.
RULE #4

Only cross examine

witnesses that can HURT
or SUPPORT your theory
of the case.
RULE #5

Be the IN-CHARGE
HOW TO ASK THE QUESTIONS

Step #1:

Goal: CONTROL
 Step #2:

You state facts and the witness simply

agrees or disagrees with them –
ONE BY ONE
Step #3:

LEADING QUESTION+TAG
LINE
 Step #4:
THE L1 RULE

*Ask mostly Leading

questions
*Ask only 1 fact per question