Counsel Quote by Charles M. Sevilla
““DEFENSE COUNSEL And then the defense? THE COURT It’s the Court’s practice to start with the prosecution, and I would ask the D.A. to voir-dire the jury ad seriatim. DEFENSE COUNSEL Would you run that by me again? THE COURT Ad seriatim. DEFENSE COUNSEL I’m sorry. All at once? One at a time? THE COURT That means one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten . . . DEFENSE COUNSEL One through twelve? THE COURT Yes, in that order, not bouncing around, ad seriatim. And that means, when he’s done, you can ask your questions ad seriatim. DEFENSE COUNSEL I’d prefer to ask them ad nauseam, if you don’t mind. What””
About This Quote
Source Courtroom Dialogue: Fictional Legal Drama, unknown source
A lawyer requests sequential questioning, but the judge insists on a specific order, highlighting procedural constraints in trials.
In simple terms: Judge forces ordered questioning in court.
Key Takeaway
Respect procedural rules.
Themes
law
procedure
court
communication
Mood
formal
tense
Type
legal
procedural
When to use this quote
- trial
- defense questioning
- courtroom protocol
Key Concepts
legal process
question sequencing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does strict order affect defense effectiveness?
- Can alternative questioning improve fairness?
A Different Perspective
Procedural rigidity can limit flexibility for defense strategy.
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