Irving Younger was one of the great teachers of trial practice in the 20th Century. A printout of his famous “10 Commandments of Cross Examination” are found in the trial notebooks of many a successful lawyer. Listening to an audio of Younger giving these 10 Commandments is a treat. If you have never heard an audio or seen a video of Younger, do so. Here are the Commandments:
- Be brief.
- Short Questions, plain words.
- Always ask leading questions.
- Don’t ask a question to which you do not already know the answer.
- Listen to the witnesses’ answers.
- Don’t quarrel with the witness.
- Don’t allow a witness to repeat his/her direct testimony.
- Don’t permit a witness to explain his/her answers.
- Don’t ask one question too many.
- Save the ultimate point of your cross for your closing argument.
Download these tips here.