Fundamental Objections

1. Relevance Objections

• Irrelevant: Evidence doesn't relate to the case

• Materiality: Evidence doesn't affect substantial rights

• Cumulative: Evidence repeats already admitted evidence

2. Form/Objection to Question

• Argumentative: Question argues with witness

• Asked and Answered: Same question already asked

• Assumes Facts Not in Evidence: Question presumes unproven facts

• Compound Question: Multiple questions in one

• Confusing/Misleading: Question is unclear or confusing

• Narrative: Question calls for long, uncontrolled story

• Leading: Suggests answer (objectionable on direct)

• Non-Responsive: Witness doesn't answer question asked

• Vague: Question is unclear or ambiguous

• Repetitive: Unnecessarily repeats same question

3. Competence/Reliability

• Lack of Foundation: No basis for evidence/witness qualification

• Lack of Personal Knowledge: Witness doesn't have direct knowledge

• Speculation: Witness guessing without facts

• Opinion: Lay witness giving improper opinion

• Not Best Evidence: Original document not produced

• Authentication: Document/witness not properly identified

Hearsay Objections

4. Hearsay (General)

• Hearsay: Out-of-court statement offered for truth

• Not Hearsay: Statement offered for other purposes

5. Hearsay Exceptions

• Present Sense Impression: Statement describing current event

• Excited Utterance: Statement under stress of exciting event

• Then-Existing Mental/Physical Condition: Statement of current state

• Statement for Medical Diagnosis: Medical history statements

• Recorded Recollection: Past recollection recorded

• Business Records: Regularly conducted activity records

• Public Records: Government agency records

• Learned Treatises: Published authority statements

• Ancient Documents: Documents over 20 years old

• Family Records: Family history statements

Character & Habit Evidence

6. Character Evidence

• Character Evidence: Improper character trait evidence

• Propensity Evidence: Suggests action based on character

• Prior Bad Acts: Evidence of other wrongs

• Specific Instances of Conduct: Isolated past behavior

7. Habit & Routine Practice

• Habit: Regular response to specific situation

• Routine Practice: Organization's regular procedure

Witness Competency & Credibility

8. Witness Qualifications

• Lack of Personal Knowledge: No firsthand knowledge

• Improper Expert: Witness not qualified as expert

• Competency: Witness unable to testify truthfully

9. Credibility Attacks

• Impeachment: Challenging witness credibility

• Bias/Prejudice: Witness has partiality

• Prior Inconsistent Statement: Contradicts earlier statement

• Conviction of Crime: Prior criminal conviction

• Specific Instances of Conduct: Past dishonest acts

• Reputation for Truthfulness: Community opinion of honesty

• Religious Beliefs: Improper use of religious views

Privilege Objections

10. Privileges

• Attorney-Client: Confidential legal communications

• Doctor-Patient: Medical treatment communications

• Psychotherapist-Patient: Mental health communications

• Spousal: Communications between spouses

• Clergy-Penitent: Religious confession communications

• Self-Incrimination: 5th Amendment protection

• Executive Privilege: Government executive communications

• Informant's Privilege: Protecting confidential informants

• Journalist's Privilege: Protecting news sources

Documentary & Physical Evidence

11. Document Evidence

• Best Evidence Rule: Requires original documents

• Authentication: Proof document is genuine

• Chain of Custody: Evidence handling documentation

• Parol Evidence Rule: Limits extrinsic contract evidence

• Complete Writing Rule: Requires full document context

12. Physical Evidence

• Alteration: Evidence has been changed

• Contamination: Evidence improperly handled

• Prejudice Outweighs Probative Value: More prejudicial than useful

Procedural Objections

13. Trial Procedure

• Beyond Scope: Exceeds cross-examination scope

• Improper Rehabilitation: Bolstering credibility improperly

• Jury Nullification: Encouraging jury to ignore law

• Golden Rule Argument: Asking jury to put themselves in position

14. Evidence Presentation

• Improper Bolstering: Enhancing credibility before attack

• Curative Admissibility: Responding to improper evidence

• Limited Admissibility: Evidence restricted to specific purpose

Constitutional & Legal Rights

15. Constitutional Objections

• 4th Amendment: Illegal search and seizure

• 5th Amendment: Self-incrimination protection

• 6th Amendment: Confrontation Clause violation

• Due Process: Fair procedure violation

• Equal Protection: Discrimination in application

16. Statutory Objections

• Statute of Limitations: Time limit expired

• Jurisdictional: Court lacks authority

• Standing: Party lacks legal right to sue

Expert Testimony

17. Expert Witness Objections

• Daubert/Objection: Expert methodology unreliable

• Frye Standard: Expert method not generally accepted

• Qualifications: Witness not properly qualified

• Ultimate Issue: Expert decides case outcome

• Legal Conclusion: Expert states legal conclusion

Specific Evidence Types

18. Demonstrative Evidence

• Unduly Prejudicial: More prejudicial than probative

• Misleading: Creates false impression

• Unfair Surprise: No prior disclosure

19. Photographs & Recordings

• Gruesome/Inflammatory: Unnecessarily shocking

• Altered/Doctored: Not accurate representation

• Sound Recording: Poor quality or inaudible

20. Experimental Evidence

• Not Substantially Similar: Conditions don't match

• Unreliable Methodology: Flawed testing procedures

Closing Arguments

21. Argument Objections

• Misstates Evidence: Incorrectly characterizes evidence

• Misstates Law: Incorrect legal statements

• Appeals to Passion/Prejudice: Emotional rather than factual

• Personal Opinion: Lawyer gives personal views

• Vouching: Lawyer guarantees witness truthfulness

• Golden Rule: Asks jurors to put themselves in position

Common Objection Phrases

22. Frequently Used Objections

• "Objection, foundation": No basis established

• "Objection, calls for speculation": Witness must guess

• "Objection, hearsay": Out-of-court statement

• "Objection, leading": Suggests the answer

• "Objection, relevance": Not related to case

• "Objection, compound": Multiple questions

• "Objection, assumes facts not in evidence": Presumes unproven facts

• "Objection, best evidence": Original document required

• "Objection, privilege": Protected communication

• "Objection, beyond scope": Exceeds direct examination

Strategic Considerations

23. Timing & Strategy

• Speaking Objection: Objection that suggests answer

• Continuing Objection: Preserves issue for entire line

• Motion to Strike: Remove improper evidence already heard

• Motion in Limine: Pre-trial ruling on evidence

• Offer of Proof: Preserves excluded evidence for appeal