Child Custody Witness Guide

Table of Contents

 
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1: Why Court 9

The Last Option 10

2: Why Me? 13

I Am Not Involved 14

How Subpoenas Work 14

Availability 14

Quashing a Subpoena 15

I Don’t Belong Here 15

Passion 15

What Now? 17

Elements of a Court Case 17

3: Witness 21

What is a Witness? 21

Reason for a Witness 22

They Know You Are Coming 22

Types of Witnesses 23

Can't Pay Witness to Not Testify 27

4: Testimony 29

Reasons You Want to Testify 29

Black and White 29

Your Agenda 30

Skeletons 31

Defending Yourself 32

Strategy 32

Worst Reasons 32

Refusing to Testify 33

In Contempt 33

Failure to Testify 34

Don’t Want to Testify 34

Failure to Disclose Sources 36

Failure to Appear 36

5: Unusual Situations 37

Interpreter/Translators 37

Switching Sides 38

Stealth Witness 39

Whose Case is This? 39

6: Discovery 41

Interrogatory 41

7: Evidence 45

Types of Evidence 46

Producing Documents 46

Admissible Evidence 47

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree 48

Timeline 48

Demonstrative 48

Equipment 48

Computer 49

Data Recovery 49

Email and More 50

Linguistic Sleuthing 51

Cyberspace 51

Phones 51

Emergency 911 51

Tape Recorder 52

Videotapes 52

Burden of Proof 52

8: Your Testimony 53

Testimony Terror 53

Types of Testimony 53

Self-Conscious 54

Self-Confident 54

Content of Testimony 54

Did You See What I Saw? 55

Purpose of a Pre-Trial Meeting 55

Non-Issues 55

Your Assignment 56

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics 56

Last Review 57

Four Important Rules 58

Aid to the Enemy 59

Espionage 59

9: Perjury 61

Oath 61

Variations of Oath 62

Recalling a Witness 62

Subordination of 62

False Swearing 62

Conflicting Truths 63

Court Calls a Liar a Liar 64

Proof or Poof 64

Defense Against Lies 64

Theirs Against Them 64

Witness Statements 65

Non-Fatal Flaw 65

Your Lies 65

Sue for Allegations 67

10: Visual Impact 69

First Impression 69

Halo Effect 70

Court Attire 70

Especially for Men 70

Especially for Women 70

Tattoos 71

Skin Piercing 71

Tongue Piercing 71

Are You Adorned? 71

Body Language 71

Defensive Behaviors 72

Positive Behaviors 72

Aggressive Behaviors 72

Delay Behaviors 73

News Flash Junkies 73

Friendly Fire 73

11: Deposition 75

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 75

What is a Deposition? 76

Types of Depositions 77

Admissibility 77

Reasons 78

Attorney at Deposition 78

Use of Depositions 78

Impeachment 79

Pre-Depo Meeting 80

Rules of Deposition 81

Costs for Deposition 81

Best Time 81

Second Deposition 81

Personal Preparation 82

Instructions from the Opposition 82

Instructions 83

Deposition Outline 84

Your Deposition 85

End Deposition 87

Check Deposition 87

Deposition Format 88

Correcting Mistakes 90

Errata Sheet 90

Objection 91

Post-Deposition 91

12: Video Deposition 93

Court Case of the Future 93

Uses 94

Fear of the Camera 95

Showing the Pain 96

Challenging Video Deposition 96

Synchronized Deposition 97

General Rules 97

Important Differences 98

Deposition Induces a Trial 98          

13: Confidentiality 99

Children or Parents 99

Your Spouse 99

Professional Services 100

Accountant 100

Attorney 100

Clergy 101

Doctors 101

Medical Records 102

CPS 102

Court 102

Documentation 102

Breach/Compromise 103

You 103

14: Work-Related 105

Listing of Professions 105

15: Experts 113

Loose Cannon 113

Can Do 114

Experts Only 114

Physician Consultant 115

Physician’s Responsibility 115

Responsibility 115

Some Are Prostitutes 115

Confidentiality 116

Before Court 116

Mock Trial Court 116

In Court 117

Questions to Expect 118

Complex Evidence 118

Traps to Avoid 118

Opposition Expert 119

Your Opinion of Their Expert 119

Avoid Metaphors 119

Challenging Experts 119

After Testifying 120

16: Attorneys 121

Only Protects Client 121

Not an Accessory 122

Good-Ole-Boy System 123

Attorney Types 123

Ol’ Buddy 124

Inquisitor 125

Confessor 125

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet 126

Crazy Quilt 126

Word Butcher 126

Ambusher 127

New Kid 127

Mad Dog Attorney 127

At Deposition 127

Handling the Dog 128

Roamer 128

Silent Waiter 129

The Exposer 129

17: Judges 131

Black Robes 131

Judge’s Influence 134

About Judges 134

Can’t Do 135

Judicial Immunity 136

Abuse of Discretion 136

18: Court 137

Court’s Function 137

What Happens 138

Types of Courts 138

Court Appearances Equal? 138

Know the Arena 139

Prepare for Court 139

Five Days Before Court 139

Night Before Court 140

Court in the Morning 140

Later in the Day 140

Day in Court 140

Behavior in Court 142

Court Joker 143

Smoke and Mirrors 143

Exclusion 143

Submitting Evidence 143

Your Testimony 144

Confidentiality 145

Stages of Trial 145

Arguments 146

Exparte Communication 146

Connecting 146

Conduct at Trial 147

19: Questions? 149

Types of Questioning 149

Direct Examination 149

Cross-Examination 150

Re-Direct 150

Types of Questions 151

General Rules 153

Objections 154

Improper Objections 156

Dodging Tricky Questions 156

20: Answers 159

Worry About Looking Stupid 159

On a Scale of 159

Question by Design 160

A Lamb to Slaughter 160

Safe Answers 160

Not Sure! Not Sure? 165

Do You Know It All? 165

Absolute No-No’s 166

Impeach 166

21: Children 167

Oath of Truth 168

Child’s Attorney 168

Alternatives to Open Court 168

Ten Tips to Help 168

Confidentiality 169

Children Feel Guilt 169

Need to Know 169

They Don’t Lie Well 169

Don’t Tell Children to Lie 170

Who’ll Know? 170

Trauma 170

Competence 170

Truth from Lie 171

Record Testimony 171

Ryan Factors 173

Challenge 174

Suppress 175

Fear, Bias, Prejudice 175

22: Appeal 177

Appealed Decision’s Standing 177

Many Appeals are Filed 178

Few are Perfected 178

No Pro Bono Appeals 178

Glossary of Terms 181

Index 221

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Updated 03/13/2017

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Helping Children and Parents since 1992

Updated  03/13/2017

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