Tips for Testifying in Court

1. Listen to the question. Make certain you understand the question. If you do not understand the question, ask the attorney to repeat the question.
2. Repeat the question in your head.
3. Answer the question with the shortest answer consistent with the truth, and shut up.
4. Do not volunteer information.
5. Do not get angry.
6. Answer the question truthfully, even if the answer hurts you.
7. Watch out for the compound question.
8. Watch out for the question that assumes facts that are not true.
9. Watch out for questions that give a wrongful summation of the facts.
10. Do not characterize your testimony.
11. Try to avoid using absolute words, like “no”, “never”, and “all”.
12. Avoid getting boxed in with “everything you remember”, or “everything you know”.