Reference no: EM132423779

Assignment: 1) Discuss the challenges and benefits of using child witnesses. What criteria would you use to evaluate the admissibility of a child witness?

2) Describe the general characteristics you would want in a credible witness if you were his or her legal counsel.

3) Debate the pros and cons of Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 608. Should the personal character of the witness be put on trial, or should this examination be a necessary part of the proceedings to ensure the veracity of court testimony?

Chapter 9

1) In your opinion, when should counsel use expert witness testimony? Discuss the benefits and challenges of using expert witnesses in a trial.

2) In your opinion, did the cross-examination tactic requiring O.J. Simpson to put on the ill-fitting gloves in front of the jury have an effect on the eventual outcome of the trial? Discuss the benefits and challenges of cross-examination.

3) Should religious beliefs or opinions be admitted as witness testimony? Why or why not?

Chapter 10

1) Should dying declarations be admissible in court? What about excited utterances? What are the benefits and consequences from the perspective of both sides?

2) Should statements including hearsay within hearsay be admissible in court? Can these statements truly be reliable? Why or why not?

3) Consider a court system in which only firsthand witness testimony is admissible. How would this rule affect court proceedings?