adverse witness

adverse witness
adverse witness see witness

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

adverse witness
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.

adverse witness
n.
   a witness in a trial who is found by the judge to be adverse to the position of the party whose attorney is questioning the witness, even though the attorney called the witness to testify on behalf of his/her client. When the attorney calling the witness finds that answers are contrary to the legal position of his/her client or the witness becomes openly antagonistic, the attorney may request the judge to declare the witness to be "adverse" or "hostile." If the judge declares the witness to be adverse (i.e. hostile) then the attorney may ask "leading" questions which suggest answers or are challenging to the testimony just as on cross examination of a witness who has testified for the opposition.
   See also: witness

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • adverse witness — A witness who gives evidence on a material matter prejudicial to the party then examining him. Commonly used to describe a witness whose testimony is prejudicial or unfavorable to the party who called him and as a result, such witness may be… …   Black's law dictionary

  • adverse witness — A witness who gives evidence on a material matter prejudicial to the party then examining him. Commonly used to describe a witness whose testimony is prejudicial or unfavorable to the party who called him and as a result, such witness may be… …   Black's law dictionary

  • adverse witness — witness that presents disadvantageous evidence, witness that provides evidence that helps the other side of a court case (Legal) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • adverse witness — noun A witness called on behalf of an adverse party. Syn: hostile witness …   Wiktionary

  • adverse witness — noun a witness whose relationship to the opposing party is such that his or her testimony may be prejudiced against the opposing party a hostile witness can be asked leading questions and cross examined • Syn: ↑hostile witness • Hypernyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • adverse witness — A witness who, in the opinion of the presiding judge, is hostile …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • hostile or adverse witness — A witness who manifests so much hostility or prejudice under examination in chief that the party who has called him, or his representative, is allowed to cross examine him, i.e., to treat him as though he had been called by the opposite party.… …   Black's law dictionary

  • hostile or adverse witness — A witness who manifests so much hostility or prejudice under examination in chief that the party who has called him, or his representative, is allowed to cross examine him, i.e., to treat him as though he had been called by the opposite party.… …   Black's law dictionary

  • witness — wit·ness 1 n [Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge] 1 a: attestation of a fact or event in witness whereof the parties have executed this release b: evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by… …   Law dictionary

  • Adverse — or adverse interest, in law, is anything that functions contrary to a party s interest. This word should not be confused with .Adverse witness and partyAn adverse witness is a witness whose testimony benefits an opposing party. Opposing parties… …   Wikipedia

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