Witness Archives

Are there experts who can evaluate parental alienation for a custody case?

There are “expert” witnesses for virtually any and every issue in legal actions. Can judges be bamboozled by pseudo-scientific expert witnesses? Without question. Do some judges who know that the so-called expert witness’s testimony is pseudo-scientific bunk (or at least…

Reform that reforms nothing

February 2, 2022

Divorce Utah

Custody, Divorce, Divorce Law, Family Law, Utah, Utah Court Rules, Witness

civil procedure, court, court rules, critique, legal opinion, reform, Utah law, Utah rules

Commencing May 21, 2022, a new rule of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure will be in force: Rule 100A. While I love the intention behind Rule 100A, reviewing the rule reveals it to be poorly structured, and I do…

Do letters vouching for one’s character really matter?

My lawyer asked me to get letters of my character from my friends for family court to introduce as evidence, but do they really matter and is 12 enough? Do letters vouching for one’s character really matter? If so, are…

What are some ways to not appear judgmental as a lay witness?

December 29, 2021

Divorce Utah

Court Rules, Lawyers, Legal System, Testimony, Witness

court, facts, hearing, judge, lawyers, lay witness, testimony, trial, witness

What are some examples of how to not appear judgmental as a lay witness in court? Tell the !@#$% truth, not stories you hope will dupe the court into doing what you want or what the party who called you…

What is the percentage of people who commit/are prosecuted for perjury?

December 17, 2021

Divorce Utah

Court Rules, Evidence, Expert Witnesses, Testimony, Witness

crime, getting caught, illegal, judge, lawyer, lying under oath, perjury, prosecution

What percentage of people lie while under oath in a courtroom, and how often does someone get prosecuted for perjury? Re: What percentage of people lie under oath in a courtroom: If anyone knows this, I don’t know who he/she/they…

Examples of how to not appear judgmental as a lay witness.

November 4, 2021

Divorce Utah

Court Rules, Testimony, Witness

court, court preparation, facts, judges, lawyers, lay witness, preparation, testimony, witness

What are some examples of how to not appear judgmental (or worse) as a lay witness in court? Tell the !@#$% truth, not stories you hope will dupe the court into doing what you want or what the party who…

Does saying after an answer “I truly believe that”, “it truly is”, damage your credibility as a lay witness in court or is it better to don’t add this type of qualifiers?

September 22, 2021

Divorce Utah

Court Rules, Justice and Equity, Legal System, Testimony, Utah Court Rules, Utah Law, Witness

court, court rules, evidence, justice, law, law practice, lay witness, testimony, trial

First, whether you “truly believe” something or “find it hard to believe,” testifying to something you believe or don’t believe, as opposed to testifying as to something you know, is the first and biggest problem. Testifying about something you believe…