On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 09:02:48 -0500, "Dennis O'Connor"
wrote:

There is a trial rule taught to all sophomore law students, "Never ask a
question on court you don't already know the answer to"
He obviously forgot the rule...

This is so very true but most lawyers I believe tend to forget this
rule sometimes. Another story while I was an officer, I had to attend
a DWI case that was finally going to court after about 3 years. While
I was up on the stand, the defense attorney was asking me questions
about the reasons I decided to take the defendant to jail. When the
question about his speech came up. The attorney made the comment
about his dialect and the part of the state that he was from and asked
me if I took this into account. I told him that I do take such things
into account. He then asked me "So officer, How many people do you
know from XYZ, Texas". At first I thought this question was a joke.
I then looked over at the jury and gave my answer... Well, including
myself and my family and all the people I went to school with as a
kid... A whole lot of other people! The jury rolled. The attorney
sat down and had no further questions.
The defendant was found guilty.

Scott