Irving Younger’s 10 Commandments Of Cross Examination

Irving Younger was one of the great teachers of trial practice in the 20^th Century. A printout of his famous “10 Commandments of Cross Examination” are found in the trial notebooks of many a successful lawyer. Listening to an audio of Younger giving these 10 Commandments is a treat. If you have never heard an audio or seen a video of Younger, do so. Here are the Commandments:

1. Be brief.
2. Short Questions, plain words.
3. Always ask leading questions.
4. Don’t ask a question to which you do not already know the answer.
5. Listen to the witnesses’ answers.
6. Don’t quarrel with the witness.
7. Don’t allow a witness to repeat his/her direct testimony.
8. Don’t permit a witness to explain his/her answers.
9. Don’t ask one question too many.
10. Save the ultimate point of your cross for your closing argument.

Download these tips here.