How do I Prepare to be a Court Witness?

A court witness has an important job to perform, and good preparation can be key to providing accurate, complete testimony. To prepare, a person should ensure he understands his role as a witness. He should also prepare to answer questions about the case clearly and with great attention to sticking to the facts. It may also prove helpful to learn the rules he may have to adhere to when testifying.

Part of preparing to be a court witness is understanding the witness' role. A court witness has a duty to recall and state the factual details of the case. He should not lie or embellish information. A witness has a duty to the person for whom he is testifying as well as to the justice system to furnish the facts to the best of his ability. He should also understand that his testimony could have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the case.

In preparation for his time in court, a witness usually spends at least some time going over the facts of the case. This means he makes an effort to recall events clearly and remember them in the order in which they occurred. This may help the witness to avoid appearing confused or stumbling over his answers in court. It is normal to be nervous when testifying in court, but preparing to offer clear answers may help reduce some of the anxiety.

While recalling facts is important, a court witness should not memorize what he will say. If he does, his testimony could seem rehearsed. Additionally, he could become confused if a lawyer doesn’t ask questions in the order in which he remembers them.

A court witness should learn where the court is located and obtain directions for getting there. If he’s never been to the area before, he may drive there beforehand to avoid the possibility of getting lost on the day he has to appear; it is critical for a court witness to arrive on time. The witness should ask the lawyer for whom he’s testifying for specifics regarding where he should go when he arrives in the courthouse. In some cases, the lawyer may want to meet with the witness before entering the courtroom.

To show respect for the court, a court witness should dress in a respectful manner. Often, people recommend wearing business attire. A suit is appropriate attire, as is a dress a woman would wear to an important business meeting. Jeans, shorts, sneakers, and revealing clothing are not usually considered appropriate attire for a court witness.

There are some general rules or tips for testifying that a person should be know before entering the courtroom. A witness is typically expected to give only the facts of the case and deliver his answers in a slow and clear manner. He should not guess about what a lawyer means. If he does not understand a question, he should ask for clarification. If he does not know the answer to a question, he should generally say so.