Direct Examination Gone Horribly Wrong

A bit of levity to end the week…

Lawyers should never ask a witness a question if they aren’t prepared for the answer. In a trial, a small town prosecutor called his first witness, a grand motherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?”

She responded, “Why, yes I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve know you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a cheap paper pusher. Yes, I know you.”

Angry Judge

The prosecutor was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense lawyer?” Again she replied, “Why yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster too. He’s lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. one of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.”

The defense lawyer almost died. Then the judge asked both counselors to approach the bench, and in a very quiet voice, said, “If either of you smart b*****ds asks her if she knows me, I’ll have you thrown in jail for contempt.”