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Did you know that an attorney cannot argue for more than two hours unless they have the court's permission?
Hopefully this case never arises in your court, but what are other objections that someone might see during a trial?
A trial has three main stages: opening, the trial itself, and closing. And each of these stages has unique objections that might arise.
Opening
The opening statement is the best time for an attorney to tell the whole story of their case. They can explain why they think the defendant is guilty, why they think their client is not guilty, and so on. But how does someone object to this when the trial hasn't even really started? Look to this list to see some common objections. And remember, there is nothing wrong with objecting during an opening statement if an attorney has crossed the line, but it is quite rare to interrupt an opening unless you have solid ground for making the objection.
Closing
Closing arguments are the time to recap your case and summarize all of your evidence. Maybe focus heavily on the good and explain the bad. The objections to closing are a little more straightforward, simply because the trial is over and we know exactly what is or is not in evidence. The most common objection is when an attorney uses the "golden rule."
Common Objections
Trials can move quick and it is easy to miss an objection or not be prepared with a response to an objection. It can be helpful to make a list of common objections so that you are prepared and have a response ready to go. The list below is a list I made of the most common objections I've heard as a prosecutor and magistrate judge.
