direct examination

noun

: the first examination of a witness by the party calling the witness compare cross-examination

Examples of direct examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This trial involved my first direct examination of a Deputy Chief Medical Examiner. —Woody Clermont, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024

After direct examination of Pecker concluded, Trump lawyer Emil Bove began cross-examining the magazine publisher. —Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

The jury listened inside the courtroom to audio of the direct examination portion of the testimony for a little over an hour before a brief recess. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2024

Thursday marks the third day of Pecker's direct examination by prosecutors and comes as members of Trump's legal team head to the Supreme Court to argue in favor of the former president's claim of presidential immunity. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

direct examination

noun

: the first examination of a witness by the party calling the witness compare cross-examination, redirect examination

Note: As a general rule, leading questions are not allowed on direct examination, but there are exceptions, as when the witness is shown to be hostile.