1.
Tell the truth.
2.
Don’t be afraid of the
lawyers.
3.
Relax; don’t lose your
temper.
4.
Speak slowly and
clearly (most of us speak faster than we realize).
5.
Always be sure of the
question before answering; if you’re unsure of the question, ask for a repeat
or rephrasing.
6.
Under
cross-examination, DON’T VOLUNTEER; if you can answer yes or no, do so and
STOP.
7.
Don’t be afraid to
admit that you don’t know an answer or don’t remember a fact.
8.
You don’t need to be
positive to give an answer; you may testify that you think something is
probably true or untrue.
9.
Don’t memorize your
testimony, i.e., speak in your own words.
10.
Don’t kid or joke, and
always be courteous to the judge and other counsel.
11.
Don’t be reluctant to
admit that you’ve reviewed your testimony with counsel; every competent
attorney goes over testimony with prospective witnesses.
12.
Get a good night’s
rest, have a good meal, and don’t drink or take tranquilizers or medication
before coming to court unless required to by a doctor.
13.
Don’t read, chew gum,
sleep, or talk during court proceedings.
14.
Don’t wave or talk to
the client or the attorney in the courtroom, hallways, or restrooms; doing so
may make you appear partial to the client in the jurors’ eyes, causing them to
discredit your testimony.
15.
Don’t discuss the case
in the courtroom, hallways, or bathrooms, because jurors and others may
overhear the discussion.
16.
Don’t say anything
at any time to a juror in or out of the courtroom—this includes verbal
and written communications of all types.
17.
When seated in court,
don’t react to favorable or unfavorable testimony; grimaces and smirks may be
noticed by the jury.
18.
Don’t pass notes to
the attorney while in court.
19.
If there’s an
objection to a question, wait for a ruling before you answer.
20.
If you make a mistake,
correct it, even if the questioner has moved on to another question.
21.
When you finish your
testimony, leave the courtroom—don’t wait for or attempt to talk to the client
or the attorney