Narrative Answer/Narrating

Description:

When a question asks for a long drawn out response and when the witness gives a long drawn out response.

Purpose/Policy/Reason:

To prevent the witness from providing information that couldn’t be objected to. If an attorney was to give a vague question, the witness could just go on and on preventing the opposing counsel to objecting to specific questions.

Examples:

Tell us what you about the case?”

(In this case, the question is extremely vague and will lead to a narrative answer that is long and drawn out, which is objectable)

Could you tell us what happened that night?”

(In this case, the question is asking for the witness to testify about a broad time period, which is objectable)

Were you at school? What was going on?”

(In this case, the question is asking for the witness to testify what was going at school, which is a long time and objectable.)

Federal and Georgia Mock Trial Rule of Evidence

Article VI. Witnesses

Rule 611. Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation

(a) Control by the Court; Purposes. The court should exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of examining witnesses and presenting evidence so as to:

1. make those procedures effective for determining the truth;
2. avoid wasting time; and
3. protect witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment