Texas Objections
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Pretrial Motions
I.
Introduction
§1:10
Use of Pretrial Motions
II.
Limine
§1:20
Purpose and Application
§1:30
Advantages and Disadvantages
§1:40
Civil Cases
§1:50
Criminal Cases
§1:60
Procedure
§1:70
Ruling on Motion
§1:80
Violation of Order
III.
Striking Intervention
§1:90
General Points
§1:100
Standard for Trial Court
§1:110
Appellate Review
IV.
Striking New Parties
§1:120
General Points
V.
Continuance
§1:130
Purpose
§1:140
Motion for Recess Distinguished
§1:150
Requirements
§1:160
Timing of Motion
§1:170
Agreed Motion
§1:180
Insufficient Notice of Trial Setting
§1:190
Additional Discovery Needed
§1:200
Amended Pleadings
§1:210
Continuance After Attorney’s Withdrawal
§1:220
Legislative Continuances
§1:230
Appellate Review
VI.
Bifurcation of Exemplary Damages
§1:240
Right to Bifurcation
§1:250
Review of Order
VII.
Separate Trials
§1:260
When Separate Trials Permissible
§1:261
Standards for Court’s Determination
VIII.
Severance
§1:270
Purpose
§1:280
When Proper
§1:290
Objection
§1:300
Criminal Trials
§1:310
Timing
§1:320
Appellate Review
IX.
Nonsuit
§1:330
Effect
§1:340
Claim for Affirmative Relief of Nonmoving Party
§1:350
Timing
§1:360
Requirements
§1:370
Review
X.
Exclusion or Suppression of Evidence
§1:380
Procedure
§1:390
Oral Confessions
§1:400
Involuntary Statements
§1:410
Brady Violation
§1:420
Unduly Suggestive Identification Procedures
2. Trial Objections, Evidentiary
Motions & Preserving Error on Evidentiary Rulings
I.
Introduction
§2:10
Scope of Chapter
§2:20
Applicable Rules
§2:30
Types of Evidence
§2:40
Presentation and Admissibility of Evidence
§2:50
Preliminary Questions Regarding Admissibility
II.
Objections
A.
Principles
§2:60
Purpose
§2:70
Admission of Improper Evidence
§2:80
Evidence Admissible in Part
§2:90
Preserving Record for Appeal
§2:100
Anticipate Changes in Law
§2:110
Cumulative Error
§2:120
Fundamental Error
§2:130
Harmless Error in Civil Cases
§2:140
Harmless Error in Criminal Cases
§2:150
Invited Error
§2:160
Bases for Objecting
§2:170
When Not to Object
B.
Procedure
1. General
Points
§2:180 Pretrial Preparation
§2:190 Objecting in Limine
§2:200 Objecting at Trial
§2:210 Object in Time
§2:220 Stating Basis
§2:230 Renewing Objections
§2:240 Bench Trials
2.
Specific Types of Objections
§2:250 Evidence Not Relevant to Pleadings
§2:260 Improper Question or Comment
§2:270 Questions by Court
§2:280 Undisclosed Witnesses
§2:290 Failure to Provide Requested Discovery
§2:300 Evidence Outside Pretrial Order
§2:310 Evidence Contrary to Admissions
§2:320 Evidence at Variance With Pleadings
§2:330 Request for Jury View
§2:340 Deposition Excerpts
§2:350 Documents
§2:360 Opening or Closing Statement
§2:370 Jury Charge
§2:380 Continuing or Running Objections
§2:390 Piggyback Objections
§2:395 Failure to Permit Witness to Testify
3. Actions
After Objection
§2:400 Taking Exception
§2:410 Secure Ruling
§2:420 Obtain Record
§2:430 Objection Sustained Against You
III.
Bill of Exceptions and Offers of Proof
A.
Bill of Exceptions
§2:440 In
General
§2:450
Affidavits Supporting Bill of Exceptions
B.
Offers of Proof
§2:460
Definition and Purpose
§2:470
Right to Make Offer
§2:480
Timing
§2:490
Types of Offers
§2:500
Multiple Parties
§2:510
Limited Offer
§2:520
Court’s Ruling
§2:530
Steps for Preserving Error for Exclusion of Evidence
§2:540
Procedure
§2:550
Opposing Offer
IV.
Trial Amendments
§2:560
Trial Amendment
§2:570
Amendment to Conform to Issues Tried Without Objection
V.
Motions to Strike
§2:580
Definition and Purpose
§2:590
When to Move to Strike
VI.
Curative and Limiting Instructions
§2:600
Definition and Purpose
§2:610
Sample Curative Instructions
§2:620
Limiting Instructions
VII.
Motions for Mistrial
§2:630
Definition and Purpose
§2:640
When to Move for Mistrial
§2:650
Review
3. Jury Selection
I.
In General
§3:10
Right to Jury Trial and Waiver
§3:20
Order of Proceedings
§3:30
Jury Shuffle
§3:40
Selection of Alternate Jurors
§3:50
Jury Questionnaires
II.
Juror Disqualification and Non-Causal Excusal
§3:60
Disqualification From Jury Service
§3:70
Exemptions From Jury Service
§3:80
Non-Cause Excuse From Jury Service
III.
Voir Dire
A.
General Rules
§3:90
Governing Law and Principles
§3:100
Procedure
§3:110
Record of Voir Dire
§3:120
Individual Voir Dire
§3:130
Court-Imposed Restrictions
§3:140
Time Limits
§3:150
Judicial Voir Dire
§3:160
Panelist Obligation of Truthfulness
§3:170
Rehabilitation and Explanation
B.
Examination of Panel
§3:180
Generally
§3:190
Questions That Seek to Commit Panel Member
§3:200
Comments by Counsel
§3:210
Topics of Inquiry
§3:220
Refusal to Permit Proper Question
§3:230
Comments by Jurors
C.
Improper Questions
§3:240
Arguing Case
§3:250
Legal Matters
§3:260
Repetitive Questioning
§3:270
Seeking Commitment
§3:280
Panel Member as a Witness
§3:290
Vague
IV.
Challenge for Cause
§3:300
Generally
§3:310
Grounds for Challenge for Cause
§3:320
Bias and Prejudice
§3:330
Determination
§3:340
Preservation of Error
V.
Peremptory Strikes
A.
General Rules
§3:350
Generally
B.
Discriminatory Use of Peremptory Strike (Batson
Challenge)
§3:360 The
Objection
§3:370
Generally
§3:380
Protected Groups
§3:390
Procedure
4. Opening Statement
I.
Principles
§4:10
Purpose
§4:20
Right to Make Opening Statement
§4:30
Order of Opening
§4:40
Record of Opening
§4:50
Trial Court’s Control of Opening
§4:60
Objections During Opening Statement
§4:70
Use of Demonstrative Evidence
§4:80
Appellate Review
II.
Improper Content
§4:90
Generally
§4:100
Detailing Evidence
§4:110
Argument
§4:120
Erroneous Matter
§4:130
Personal Attacks; Injection of Self; Inflammatory Statements
§4:140
Financial or Personal Circumstances
§4:150
Insurance Coverage
§4:160
Settlement Negotiations
§4:170
Repairs
§4:180
Offers to Pay Medical Bills
§4:190
Inadmissible Pleas, Plea Discussions and Related Statements
5. Witness Competence
I.
Principles
A.
General Points
§5:10
Definition and Presumption
§5:20
Trial Court Determination
§5:30
Child Witnesses
§5:40
Incompetence as Matter of Law
§5:50
Drugs, Alcohol & Post-Hypnotic Testimony
§5:60
Relevancy Distinguished
§5:70
Impeachment Distinguished
§5:80
Privilege Distinguished
§5:90
Physical and Mental Impairment Distinguished
§5:100
Inability to Speak English Language
B.
Procedure
§5:110
Raising and Determining Competency
§5:120
Hearing
§5:130
Effect of Competency Determination
II.
Objections
§5:140
Witness Did Not Take Oath or Affirmation
§5:150
Witness Lacks Personal Knowledge
§5:160
Child Is Incompetent to Testify
§5:170
Insane Person Is Incompetent
§5:180
Dead Man’s Rule Precludes Testimony
§5:190
Judge Is Incompetent as Witness
6. Witness Examination
I.
Principles
§6:10
Control by Court
§6:20
Behavior of Counsel
§6:30
Objections
§6:40
Direct Examination
§6:50
Cross-Examination
§6:60
Redirect and Recross
§6:70
Impeachment and Rehabilitation
§6:80
Judicial Examination of Witnesses
§6:90
Juror Questions to Witnesses
§6:100
Excluding Witnesses From Trial (Placing Witnesses Under the Rule)
II.
Objections
A.
Objections to Examination
1.
Generally
§6:110 Argumentative
§6:120 Asked and Answered; Repetitive
§6:130 Assumes Facts Not in Evidence
§6:140 Leading
§6:150 Narrative Response
2.
Improper Impeachment
§6:160 Character for Truthfulness and Conduct of Witness
§6:170 Conviction of Crime
§6:180 Prior Inconsistent Statement
§6:190 Bias or Interest
B.
Objections to Response or Anticipated Response
§6:200
Nonresponsive
7. Relevance
§7:10
Relevant Evidence Admissible
§7:20
Definitions
§7:30
Determination of Relevance
§7:40
Trial Court Discretion
§7:50
Objection Based on Limited Purposes
§7:60
Objection Based on Relevance
8. Confusing, Prejudicial & Bolstering
I.
General Principles
§8:10
Overview
II.
Objections
§8:20
Unfair Prejudice
§8:30
Confusion and Misleading
§8:40
Undue Delay and Needless Presentation of Cumulative Evidence
§8:50
Self-Serving
§8:60
Bolstering
§8:70
Ambiguous, Confusing, Compound or Unintelligible Question
9. Character, Habit & Extraneous
Offenses
I. Principles
§9:10
Character Evidence, Definition and Rule
§9:20
Exceptions to Prohibition of Character Evidence
§9:30
Habit Evidence
§9:40
Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts (Extraneous Offenses)
§9:50
Exceptions to Prohibition of Extraneous Offenses
§9:60
Contextual Evidence
II. Objections
§9:70
Inadmissible Character Evidence
§9:80
Inadmissible Evidence of Habit
§9:90
Inadmissible Evidence of Extraneous Offenses
10. Hearsay
I.
Hearsay Rule
§10:10
Definition, Rule and Purpose
§10:20
Effect of Hearsay Admitted Without Objection
§10:30
Rule of Optional Completeness
§10:40
Offer for Limited Purpose
§10:50
Initial Determination by the Court
§10:60
Exceptions Generally
II.
Types of Hearsay
§10:70
Statement
§10:80
Indirect Hearsay
§10:90
Relevance
§10:100
Statements by Machines and Animals Are Not Hearsay
§10:110
Silence
§10:120
Verbal Act or Operative Fact Rule
§10:130
Impeachment
III.
Statements Which Are Not Hearsay
§10:140
Overview
§10:150
Prior Statements by Witness
§10:160
Admission by Party Opponent
§10:170
Depositions in a Civil Case
IV.
Hearsay Exceptions: Availability of Declarant Immaterial
§10:180
Overview
§10:190
Present Sense Impression
§10:200
Excited Utterance
§10:210
Then-Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical Condition
§10:220
Statement for Medical Diagnosis or Treatment
§10:230
Recorded Recollection
§10:240
Records of Regularly Conducted Activity
§10:250
Absence of Business Records
§10:260
Public Documents
§10:270
Absence of Public Documents
§10:280
Market Reports
§10:290
Learned Treatises
§10:300
Judgment of Previous Convictions
§10:310
Statements Against Interest
§10:320
Miscellaneous TRE 803 Exceptions
V.
Hearsay Exceptions: Declarant Unavailable
§10:330
Overview
§10:340
Former Testimony
§10:350
Dying Declaration
§10:360
Statement of Personal or Family History
VI.
Other Ways to Overcome Hearsay Objections
§10:370
Experts
§10:380
Cost and Necessity of Services
VII.
Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant—TRE 806
§10:390
Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant
VIII.
Hearsay Within Hearsay
§10:400
Hearsay Within Hearsay
IX.
Outcry Statements
§10:410
Outcry Statements
11. Privileges
I.
Principles
§11:10
Definition and Purpose
§11:20
Asserting Privilege
§11:30
Offensive Use of Privilege
§11:40
Waiver
§11:50
Absolute and Qualified Privilege
§11:60
Statements in the Course of Judicial Proceedings
II.
Objections
A.
Constitutional Privileges
§11:70
Self-Incrimination
§11:80
Exercise of Religion
§11:90
Reporter’s Privilege
§11:100 Membership and
Donor Lists
B.
Statutory Privileges
1. Medical
§11:110 Chiropractor-Patient
§11:120 ‑Convalescent and Nursing Homes and Intermediate Care
Facilities for Mentally Retarded
§11:130 Emergency Medical Services
§11:140 Medical Committees
§11:150 Medical Peer Review
§11:160 Nursing Peer Review
C.
Rules of Evidence Privileges
§11:170 Reports
Required by Statute [TRE 502]
§11:180 Lawyer-Client
Privilege [TRE 503]
§11:190 Marital
Privileges [TRE 504]
§11:200 Communications
to Members of the Clergy [TRE 505]
§11:210 Political Vote
[TRE 506]
§11:220 Trade Secrets
[TRE 507]
§11:230 Identity of
Informer [TRE 508]
§11:240
Physician-Patient Privilege [TRE 509]
§11:250
Confidentiality of Mental Health Information in Civil Cases [TRE 510]
D.
Other Privileges
§11:260 Attorney Work
Product
12. Real Evidence
I.
Principles
§12:10
Definition
§12:20
Demonstrative Evidence Distinguished
§12:30
Judicial Perspective
§12:40
Impact on Jury
§12:50
Inspection by Jury
§12:60
Use During Opening Statement
§12:70
Foundation Requirements
§12:80
Replica of Real Evidence
II.
Objections
§12:90
Lack of Foundation
§12:100
In-Court Exhibition or Demonstration
§12:110
Viewing Premises or Scene of Incident Is Improper
13. Photographs, Recordings & X-Rays
§13:10
Photograph
§13:20
Motion Pictures (Videotape or Digital Medium)
§13:30
Sound Recordings
§13:40
X-Ray and Other Medical Diagnostic Imaging Tests
14. Documents
I.
Principles
§14:10
Rules and Admissibility
II.
Objections
§14:20
Document Not Properly Authenticated
§14:30
Best Evidence Rule
§14:40
Summaries
§14:50
Foreign Language Documents
§14:60
Public Documents and Records
15. Demonstrative Evidence
I.
Principles
§15:10
Definition and Purpose
§15:20
Trial Court Discretion
§15:30
Introducing Demonstrative Evidence
§15:40
Proponent’s Considerations
§15:50
Opponent’s Considerations
§15:60
Use in Opening Statement
§15:70
Use in Closing Argument
II.
Objections
§15:80
Charts, Diagrams, Graphs, or Maps
§15:90
Models
§15:100
Demonstrations, Simulations, Recreations, or Experiments
16. Expert Witnesses
I.
Principles
A.
General Points
§16:10
Definitions
§16:20
Gates to Admissibility
§16:30 Lay
Opinion Testimony Distinguished
§16:40
Demonstrating Admissibility
§16:50
Review
§16:60
Helpfulness
§16:70
Qualification
§16:80
Relevancy and Fit
§16:90
Methodological Reliability
§16:100 Application or
Connective Reliability
§16:110 Foundational
Reliability
§16:120 Reliance on
Inadmissible Evidence Rule
§16:130 TRE 403
§16:140 Testimony
Based on Experience
§16:150 Weight
Accorded Expert Testimony
§16:160 Subjects of
Expert Testimony
§16:170 Courtroom
Tests
B.
Procedure
§16:180 Disclosure
Requirements
§16:190 Compelling
Expert Testimony
§16:200 Objecting to
Expert Witness Testimony
§16:210 Examining
Expert Witness at Trial
§16:220 Requesting
Continuance if Court Strikes Testimony
§16:230 Request for
Appointment of Defense Expert
II.
Objections
§16:240
Inappropriate Hypothetical Question
§16:250
Opinion Testimony on Law
§16:260
Lack of Helpfulness
§16:270
Lack of Qualifications
§16:280
Not Relevant
§16:290
Lack of Reliability in Methodology
§16:300
Lack of Reliability in Underlying Data and Assumptions
§16:310
Lack of Reliability in Reasoning Process
§16:320
Improper Reliance on Inadmissible Evidence
§16:330
Unfairly Prejudicial
§16:340
Ultimate Issue
§16:350
Identification Evidence
§16:360
Expert Testimony on Standard of Care
§16:370
Expert Testimony on Medical Causation
§16:380
Judicial Notice
17. Parol Evidence
§17:10
The Parol Evidence Rule
§17:20
Ambiguity
§17:30
Fraud
§17:40
Mistake
§17:50
Agreements Affected
§17:60
Evidence Admitted in Violation of Rule
18. Use of Discovery at Trial
I.
Principles
A.
In General
§18:10
Purpose of Discovery
§18:20
Trial Exclusion for Failure to Respond to Discovery
§18:30
Objections to Written Discovery
§18:40
Failure to Object at Trial
§18:50
Duty to Amend or Supplement
§18:60
Modification of Discovery Procedures
B.
Depositions
§18:70 In
General
§18:80
Oral Depositions
§18:90
Written Depositions
§18:100 Uses
§18:110 Attorney and
Witness Conduct
§18:120 Examination
and Signature
§18:130 Objections
§18:140 Depositions as
Hearsay
§18:150 Offering
Deposition at Trial
§18:160 Impeachment by
Deposition Testimony
C.
Interrogatories
§18:170 Uses Generally
§18:180 Uses at Trial
§18:190 Response by
Reference to Documents
D.
Requests for Production
§18:200 Procedure
Generally
§18:210 Electronic or
Magnetic Data
§18:220 Effect of
Production
§18:230 Failure to
Respond
§18:240 Late
Supplementation
E.
Requests for Disclosure
§18:250 What May Be
Requested; Uses
§18:260 Time
Requirements
§18:270 Amended and
Supplemental Responses
§18:280 Late Response
§18:290 Records
§18:300 Objections
§18:310 Failure to
Respond
F.
Requests for Admissions
§18:320 Generally
§18:330 Benefits
§18:340 Uses
§18:350 Procedure
§18:360 Failure to
Respond
§18:370 Effect of
Admission
§18:380 Withdrawal or
Amendment
§18:390 Motion to
Determine Sufficiency of Response or Objection
§18:400 Objections
II.
Objections
§18:410
Depositions
§18:420
Interrogatories
§18:430
Requests for Production
§18:440
Requests for Disclosure
§18:450
Requests for Admissions
19. Special Exclusions & Limits
§19:10
Subsequent Remedial Measures
§19:20
Settlement Offers
§19:30
Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses
§19:40
Pleas in Criminal Cases
§19:50
Arrest Records
§19:60
Liability Insurance
§19:70
Statements Made During Mediation
§19:80
Availability of Collateral Recovery
§19:90
Evidence of Net Worth
§19:100
Remarriage in Wrongful Death Case
§19:110
Tax Consequences of Award
§19:120
Prior Accidents Involving Location or Product
§19:130
Plaintiff’s Prior Claims
§19:140
Defendant’s Expressions of Sympathy
§19:150
Illegal Interception of Communication
§19:160
Spoliation of Evidence
§19:170
Use or Non-Use of Seat Belt
20. Alternatives to Proof
I.
Judicial Notice
§20:10
Objection or Request for Judicial Notice
§20:11
Definition, Purpose and Use
§20:20
Facts Subject to Judicial Notice
§20:30
Adjudicative Facts
§20:35
Law of Foreign Countries
§20:40
Law of Other States
§20:50
Law of Cities and Counties, Content of Texas Register and Agency
Rules
§20:60
Procedure
§20:70
Appellate Review
II.
Presumptions & Inferences
§20:80
Objection to Presumption
§20:81
Definition and Use of Presumptions
§20:90
Common Presumptions
§20:100
Rebuttable and Irrebuttable Presumptions
§20:110
Inferences
III.
Judicial Admissions
§20:120
Objection Based on a Judicial Admission
§20:121
Definition and Effect
§20:130
Enforceability
§20:140
Quasi Admission
IV.
Stipulations
§20:150
Objection Based on a Stipulation
§20:151
Definition
§20:160
Effect
§20:170
Enforceability
§20:180
Withdrawal or Modification
21. Judicial Conduct
I.
Principles
§21:10
Governing Law
§21:20
Discretion to Regulate Trial
§21:30
Power to Ensure Decorum
§21:40
Regulation of Courtroom Attire
§21:50
Performance of Duties Without Bias or Prejudice
§21:60
Objections to Judicial Conduct
II.
Objections
§21:70
Improper Conduct During Jury Selection
§21:80
Improper Comment on Evidence
§21:90
Harassing or Embarrassing Counsel or Demonstrating Bias or
Prejudice Toward Counsel
§21:100
Improperly Examining Witness
22. Final Argument
I.
Principles
§22:10
Definition and Purpose
§22:20
Order of Closing Argument
§22:30
Supplemental Argument
§22:40
Time Limits
§22:50
Scope
§22:60
Preservation and Review of Error
§22:70
Invited Error
II.
Objections
§22:90
Failure to Fully Open
§22:100
Matters Not in Evidence
§22:110
Demonstrative Materials Not in Evidence
§22:120
Commenting on Defendant’s Failure to Testify in Criminal Case
§22:130
Commenting on Failure to Call Equally Available Witness
§22:140
Commenting on Invocation of Right to Counsel in Criminal Case
§22:150
Injecting Self or Personal Belief; Vouching for Witness’
Credibility
§22:160
Improper Sidebar Comments
§22:170
Improper Plea to Passion or Sympathy
§22:180
Reading or Arguing Law
§22:190
Personal Attacks
§22:200
Racial, Political, or Religious Comments
§22:210
Use of Criminal Case Analogy in Civil Cases
§22:220
Wealth, Poverty, Self-Interest
§22:230
Golden Rule
§22:240
Commenting on Opposing Counsel’s Objections
§22:250
Insurance
§22:260
Collateral Sources
§22:270
Settlement
§22:280
Unit of Time as Measure of Damages (Per Diem Argument)
§22:290
Effect of Jurors’ Answers to Special Issues
§22:300
Willingness to Submit to Independent Medical Examination
§22:310
Using Juror’s Name
§22:320
Pleas to Community Expectations
23. Jury Charge and Verdict
I.
Principles
§23:10
Submission of Charge
§23:20
Effect of Answers and Comments on Weight
§23:30
Requests for Inclusion and Omissions From Charge
§23:40
Texas Pattern Jury Charges
§23:50
Broad-Form Submission Preferred
§23:60
Instructions and Conditional Submissions
§23:70
Damages and Alternative Recovery Theories
§23:80
Questions Must Be Raised by the Pleadings
§23:90
Supplemental Instructions
§23:100
Objections to Charge
§23:110
Appellate Review of Charge
§23:120
Jury Deliberation and Misconduct
§23:125
Return of Verdict by Civil Jury
II.
Objections
§23:130
Instructions, Definitions and Questions
§23:140
Improper Communications With Jury or Improper Material in Jury
Room
§23:150
Jury Questions, Supplemental Instruction, Read-Back Requests
24. Motion for Directed or Instructed
Verdict
I.
In General
§24:10
Overview
§24:20
Definitions; Terminology
§24:30
Motion Must State Specific Grounds
§24:40
Who Can Make Motion; When
§24:50
Necessity of Motion
§24:60
Motion on Court’s Own Initiative
§24:70
Partial Directed Verdict
§24:80
Formal Writing Not Required
§24:90
Time for Motion or Ruling by Court
§24:100
Failure to Re-Urge Motion
§24:110
Response
§24:120
Appeal
§24:130
Criminal Cases
II.
Grounds
§24:140
Claim or Defense Established as Matter of Law
§24:150
Defect in Pleadings
§24:160
Scintilla of Evidence
Table of Cases
Table of Statutes, Rules
Index
Updated 04/06/12
