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Sometimes the DA asked a witness a question just to make…

“Sometimes the DA asked a witness a question just to make the jury think about the topic. It didn’t matter what the current witness knew, or said. The question was a setup for a future witness to answer. When the jury heard the answer from the subsequent witness, they would feel they were solving…” quote by Timothy M. Burke
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““Sometimes the DA asked a witness a question just to make the jury think about the topic. It didn’t matter what the current witness knew, or said. The question was a setup for a future witness to answer. When the jury heard the answer from the subsequent witness, they would feel they were solving the puzzle of the case piece by piece.””

Timothy M. Burke

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Lawyers sometimes pose questions not to elicit facts but to frame the jury’s thinking for later testimony, creating a narrative puzzle.

In simple terms: Strategic questioning guides audience perception.

Key Takeaway

Use questions to shape future arguments.

Themes

law persuasion strategy

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

legal educational

When to use this quote

  • courtroom
  • jury deliberation
  • cross‑examination
  • case preparation

Key Concepts

legal tactics storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does framing affect decision making?
  • When is it ethical to manipulate narrative?
A Different Perspective

If the jury misinterprets the setup, the strategy can backfire.

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