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Table of Contents

1.  Pretrial Motions

I.     Introduction

§1:10     Use of Pretrial Motions

II.   Motion in 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     Procedure

§1:100    Standard for Trial Court

§1:110    Appellate Review

IV.   Striking New Parties

§1:120    Procedure

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 Precluding Nonsuit

§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    State Basis

             §2:230    Renew 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.  Bills of Exception and Offers of Proof

        A.    Bills of Exception

      §2:440    In General

      §2:450    Bystander Bill

        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.   Motion for Leave to File Trial Amendment

§2:560    In General

§2:570    Trial by Consent

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

§2:650    Review

3.  Jury Selection

I.     Principles

        A.    In General

§3:10     Purpose

§3:20     Right to Jury Trial

§3:30     Order of Proceedings

§3:40     Jury Pool and Panel

§3:50     Jury Shuffle

§3:60     Number of Jurors; Selection of Alternates

§3:70     Jury Questionnaires

§3:80     Swearing and Admonishment of Selected Jurors

        B.    Juror Qualifications

                1.    In General

             §3:90     Requirements for Jury Service

             §3:100    Exemptions

             §3:110    Disqualifications in Particular Case

                2.    Bias

             §3:120    Grounds

             §3:130    Determination

             §3:140    Civil Case Examples

             §3:150    Criminal Cases

             §3:160    Rehabilitation and Explanation

        C.    Voir Dire

                1.    General Rules

             §3:170    Governing Law and Principles

             §3:180    Procedure

             §3:190    Individual Voir Dire

             §3:200    Supplementary Voir Dire

             §3:210    Court-Imposed Restrictions

             §3:220    Time Limits

             §3:230    Judicial Voir Dire

             §3:240    Panelist Misconduct

                2.    Examination of Panel

             §3:250    Civil Cases

             §3:260    Criminal Cases

             §3:270    Impermissible Topics

                3.    Preserving Error

             §3:280    Recording Voir Dire

             §3:290    Attorney Comments and Questions

             §3:300    Comments by Jurors

             §3:310    Refusal to Permit Some Questions

             §3:320    Jurors Not Struck for Cause

             §3:330    Time Limits

             §3:340    Batson Challenges

        D.    Excusing Jurors

      §3:350    During Voir Dire

      §3:360    After Trial Commences

        E.     Challenges

      §3:370    Overview

      §3:380    To Pool

      §3:390    For Cause

      §3:400    Peremptory

II.   Objections

        A.    During Voir Dire

      §3:410    Arguing Case

      §3:420    Legal Matters

      §3:430    Repetitiveness

      §3:440    Seeking Commitment From Jury

      §3:450    Indoctrinating Jury Through Hypotheticals

      §3:460    Seeking Comments on Law or Evidence Without Adequately Explaining Law

      §3:470    Juror Cannot Be Witness

      §3:480    Misstating Presumption of Innocence

      §3:490    Vague

      §3:500    Fishing Expedition

        B.    Challenges

      §3:510    Improperly Excusing Juror for Cause

      §3:520    Discriminatory Use of Peremptory Challenges

4.  Opening Statement

I.     Principles

§4:10     Purpose

§4:20     Right to Make Statement

§4:30     Who Opens First

§4:40     Recording Opening

§4:50     Avoiding Objections

§4:60     Objecting to Opponent’s Opening

§4:70     Using Demonstrative Evidence

II.   Objections

§4:80     Detailing Evidence

§4:90     Arguing Case

§4:100    Erroneous Matter

§4:110    Personal Attacks; Injection of Self; Inflammatory Statements

§4:120    Financial or Personal Circumstances

§4:130    Insurance Coverage

§4:140    Settlement Negotiations

§4:150    Repairs

§4:160    Offers to Pay Medical Bills

§4:170    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     General Behavior

§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

             §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

I.     Principles

§7:10     Relevant Evidence Admissible

§7:20     Definitions

§7:30     Determination of Relevance

§7:40     Trial Court Discretion

§7:50     Evidence Admissible for Limited Purposes

§7:55     Felony Punishment Evidence

II.   Objection