For many years I acted as a magistrate, sitting in court sometimes three days a week. My son is a lawyer and he now spends a fair amount of time in court also. The one thing we both know about court is that you cannot prepare for what might happen on any given day.
The bottom line is being quick of thought but also before asking any questions try your very best to be aware of the possible answers that might come your way. I have to say i have often left the court and on the way home chuckled to myself about some of the things that people have without thinking said.
There is a story of an event that happened in a small court in the USA.
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, 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 known you since you were a 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'll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.'
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defence attorney?'
She again 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 defence attorney nearly died.
The judge asked both counsellors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said,
"If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to the electric chair."
Don't ask a question until you are sure you are ready for the answer.
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