witness stand
Courtroom truth chair
The witness stand is the enclosed area in a courtroom where a witness sits while giving testimony.
In American courts, witnesses are sworn in and then take the stand to answer questions from attorneys.
To put someone on the stand is to call them as a witness.
British courts use witness box.
Give sworn evidence
- oathFormal binding promise
- swornBound by formal promise
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · judge · jury · attorney · bailiff · court reporter · objection · sidebar
Expressed claim or fact
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- affidavitSworn written statement
- recollectRetrieve past experiences
- narrateTell a story aloud
corroborate · credibility · impeach · hearsay · incriminate · exculpate · disclose · assert
Writ requiring testimony
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- swear inAdminister oath formally
- docketCourt's case schedule
- pleaFormal request or defense
verdict · alibi · summons · contempt · sequester · compel · immunity · privilege
Demonstration of truth
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- verificationProving something accurate
demonstration · confirmation · substantiation · eyewitness · circumstantial · admissible · material · relevant
Truthfulness, sincerity
- veracityConformity to fact
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
trustworthiness · candor · demeanor · composure · nervousness · hesitation · evasive · forthcoming
testify
Give sworn evidence
- oathFormal binding promise
- swornBound by formal promise
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
prosecution · defense · judge · jury · attorney · bailiff · court reporter · objection · sidebar · bench
statement
Expressed claim or fact
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- affidavitSworn written statement
- recollectRetrieve past experiences
narrate · corroborate · credibility · impeach · hearsay · incriminate · exculpate · disclose · assert · account
subpoena
Writ requiring testimony
plea · verdict · alibi · summons · contempt · sequester · compel · immunity · privilege · Miranda
proof
Demonstration of truth
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
verification · demonstration · confirmation · substantiation · eyewitness · circumstantial · admissible · material · relevant · authenticate
honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
- veracityConformity to fact
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- accuracyDegree of correctness
reliability · trustworthiness · candor · demeanor · composure · nervousness · hesitation · evasive · forthcoming · consistent
- Courtroom Proceedingstestimony, cross-examination, opening statement, closing argument, objection
- courtroom activitiescross-examination, opening statement, closing argument, jury deliberation, plea bargaining
- Murder Trialprosecutor, defense attorney, guilty, innocent, jury
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- criminal trialarraignment, defense attorney, courtroom, criminal trial, prosecutor
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
witness standdefense table
Defendant's courtroom furniture
jury box · gallery · spectator seating · dock · public gallery
witness standanonymity
Unknown identity state
silence · Fifth Amendment · behind closed doors · off the record · confidentiality
stand, standing, witness, understanding, withstand, witnesses