101 Things

An Author Needs to Know

About the Police and the Law


Have you been paying attention?

There are 10 errors of some kind or other in the following courtroom scene in which we have the state (prosecutor), the defense, the judge and a witness.  As for the errors, there are 5 procedure problems, 4 caps problems, and 1 miscellaneous error.  Can you find them? 

Attorney Richard Rollins sat at the defense table tapping a pencil on his yellow pad.  “But, your honor,” he said, his voice rising to a whine, “I objected to this photograph coming into evidence.”

The judge pushed his glasses down his nose and peered over the top.  “I’ve already made my ruling, counselor.”

“Then I’d like to request a side bar,” Rollins said.

“That request is denied.  Call your next witness Attorney Glenn.”

“The defense calls Martin Longbow to the stand.”

The clerk seated Mr. Longbow and Attorney Glenn swore him in.  After getting his name and occupation Attorney Glenn approached the stand and slapped the photograph in front of the witness.

“Now, Mr. Longbow, tell the court, is that the defendant in that photo?”

Rollins shot to his feet. “Objection, your honor, leading.”


“Sustained.”

Sweat began to form on the witness’s forehead.  He peered down at the paper in front of him. “Yeah, that’s him.”

 

ANSWERS:

Attorney Richard Rollins sat at the defense table tapping a pencil on his yellow pad.  “But, your honor,” he said, his voice rising to a whine, “I objected to this photograph coming into evidence.” (THE ATTORNEY STANDS WHEN ADDRESSING THE JUDGE.  YOUR HONOR IS CAPPED)  1)  procedure.  2) caps

The judge pushed his glasses down his nose and peered over the top.  “I’ve already made my ruling, counselor.” (COUNSELOR IS CAPPED – IT’S HIS TITLE.) 3) caps

“Then I’d like to request a side bar,” Rollins said.

“That request is denied.  Call your next witness Attorney Glenn.”

“The defense calls Martin Longbow to the stand.”

(ATTY ROLLINS IS THE DEFENSE.  GLENN IS THE STATE/PROSECUTOR.) 4 )Miscellaneous.

The clerk seated Mr. Longbow and Attorney Glenn swore him in.  After getting his name and occupation Attorney Glenn approached the stand and slapped the photograph in front of the witness.

(CLERKS DON’T SEAT WITNESSES, THE BAILIFF DOES THAT.  THE CLERK SWEARS IN THE WITNESS.  ATTY GLENN DID NOT ASK PERMISSION ‘TO APPROACH’.” 5-6-7) procedure

“Now, Mr. Longbow, tell the court, is that the defendant in that photo?”

(HE IS REFERRING TO THE JUDGE…COURT WOULD BE CAPPED.) 8) caps

Rollins shot to his feet. “Objection, your honor, leading.” (YOUR HONOR IS CAPPED) 9) caps

"Sustained.” 

Sweat began to form on the witness’s forehead.  He peered down at the paper in front of him. “Yeah, that’s him.”

(A WITNESS DOES NOT ANSWER WHEN THE OBEJCTION IS SUSTAINED.  THE ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION OR REPHRASE HIS LAST QUESTION.  IF THE WITNESS STARTS TO ANSWER, AS MOST WITNESSES HAVE NO CLUE WHAT SUSTAINED MEANS, THEY STOP HIM.”  10)  procedure


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