What should a witness do if the defense attorney fires questions rapidly?

What should a witness do if the defense attorney fires questions rapidly?

• A. Answer as many as possible quickly
• B. Ask them to repeat each question
• C. Ignore the questions completely
• D. Respond with vague answers

Answer: (B)

A witness should ask the defense attorney to repeat each question when confronted with rapid-fire questions. This approach serves several important purposes. First, it allows the witness to fully process each question, ensuring that their response is thoughtful and accurate. When questions are delivered quickly, there is a risk of misunderstanding or missing key details, which can lead to incorrect or misleading answers. Additionally, asking for clarity signals to the court that the witness is taking their testimony seriously and is committed to providing truthful and precise information. This can strengthen the witness's credibility. It also gives the witness a moment to compose themselves and to avoid the pitfalls of feeling rushed or pressured, which might lead to responses that are not as reliable as they could be. The other options may not serve the witness well in a legal context. Quickly answering many questions can lead to mistakes, while ignoring the questions altogether can appear uncooperative. Providing vague answers may leave room for misinterpretation or could weaken the overall testimony. Therefore, seeking clarification through repetition is the most effective and professional approach for handling a barrage of questions in a courtroom setting.

A witness should ask the defense attorney to repeat each question when confronted with rapid-fire questions. This approach serves several important purposes. First, it allows the witness to fully process each question, ensuring that their response is thoughtful and accurate. When questions are delivered quickly, there is a risk of misunderstanding or missing key details, which can lead to incorrect or misleading answers.

Additionally, asking for clarity signals to the court that the witness is taking their testimony seriously and is committed to providing truthful and precise information. This can strengthen the witness's credibility. It also gives the witness a moment to compose themselves and to avoid the pitfalls of feeling rushed or pressured, which might lead to responses that are not as reliable as they could be.

The other options may not serve the witness well in a legal context. Quickly answering many questions can lead to mistakes, while ignoring the questions altogether can appear uncooperative. Providing vague answers may leave room for misinterpretation or could weaken the overall testimony. Therefore, seeking clarification through repetition is the most effective and professional approach for handling a barrage of questions in a courtroom setting.