'SacramentoBob said:
'CurlyNight said:
I'm not a fan of being able to rehearse answers ahead of time, would have been a lot better if they were sprung on her live.
Exactly! Ok, lawyers need to review questions but why the defendant? Right now she's reviewing the rest of their questions while on sidebar. It should be spontaneous not rehearsed! I mean how are you going to really know the truth if the defendant is allowed to review the questions to get a start on thinking of the answer that's inline with her bogus story-- and it seems the defense team is allowed to guide her too! It's almost like what's the point especially when you have someone as smart and articulate as her!
Being caught offguard with questions you aren't expecting can make you look guilty, even if you aren't.
Welcome to trial examination and witness preparation. The problem with "attorneys only" seeing the jurors' questions beforehand is that there's nothing an attorney does that is supposed to be kept secret from the client. That gives rise to conflicts of interest, the potential to conceal attorney error, etc. The attorney-client relationship has to be transparent, and the attorney (while usually allowed leeway to exercise judgment by the client) theoretically can act only as an agent on the authority of the client who is the principal in the relationship.Also, keep in mind that the jurors undoubtedly know that she's had time to see these questions, and there are likely jury instructions that allow them to, if they so choose, to diminish the weight or credibility of her answers (versus the "live" trial questioning) based upon the fact that she had access both to them and to her attorney's advice prior to answering.