cross-examination

law

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June 25, 2026

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Cross-examination is a legal process where a witness who has already testified is questioned by the opposing party. The primary goal is to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility. This differs from direct examination, which is conducted by the party who initially called the witness.123

In Anglo-American legal proceedings, cross-examination typically follows direct examination. It is designed to prompt the witness to explain, modify, or potentially contradict their earlier statements. This process can be intense, sometimes described as a "grilling". The terms "cross-examining" and "cross-examine" refer to the act of performing this type of examination.3456

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evidence
Examination and cross-examination
Judges and attorneys in common-law courts regard the opportunity to cross-examine as a guarantee of the reliability and completeness of testimony by a witness. Under the perfect operation of the adversary system it is not the judge but rather the parties or their attorneys…
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Judges and attorneys in common-law courts regard the opportunity to cross-examine as a guarantee of the reliability and completeness of testimony by a witness. Under the perfect operation of the adversary system it is not the judge but rather the parties or their attorneys…
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adversary procedure
…testimony can raise doubts under cross-examination. The skills of the attorneys are also displayed at the time of summation, especially in a jury trial, when their versions of what the jury has heard may persuade the jury to interpret the facts to the benefit of the side that is most…
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…testimony can raise doubts under cross-examination. The skills of the attorneys are also displayed at the time of summation, especially in a jury trial, when their versions of what the jury has heard may persuade the jury to interpret the facts to the benefit of the side that is most…
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rape
Scope, effects, and motivations
…often can lead to distressing cross-examinations of rape victims in court. As a result, many rape victims choose not to report the crime to police or refuse to press charges against their assailants. For example, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an office within the U.S. Department of Justice,…
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…often can lead to distressing cross-examinations of rape victims in court. As a result, many rape victims choose not to report the crime to police or refuse to press charges against their assailants. For example, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an office within the U.S. Department of Justice,…
Read More