cross examination
cross-examination, n. The questioning of a witness at a trial or hearing by the party opposed to the party who called the witness to testify. • The purpose of cross-examination is to discredit a witness before the fact-finder in any of several ways, as by bringing out contradictions and improbabilities in earlier testimony, by suggesting doubts to the witness, and by trapping the witness into admissions that weaken the testimony. The cross-examiner is typically allowed to ask leading questions but is traditionally limited to matters covered on direct examination and to credibility issues. — Also termed cross-interrogation. Cf. DIRECT EXAMINATION; RE-CROSS-EXAMINATION. [Cases: Witnesses 266–284, 330. C.J.S. Witnesses §§ 445–498, 500–507, 579.] — cross-examine, vb.
