On November 22, 2016, I sat in courtroom 507 of the Fresno County Superior Court, under the Honorable Judge Timothy Kams. Judge Kams was conducting a jury selection for a jury trial dealing with a felony DUI case. During the jury selection, I witnessed a Venire. A venire or jury pool, is a master list or jury list, from which a petit panel is selected, typically is based on names drawn from voter registration lists or lists of licensed drivers over eighteen years of age (Lippmann, 2014, p.518). I also witnessed a Voir Dire. A Voir Dire is the questioning of individuals to determine who is to serve on the jury (Lippmann, 2014, p.519). After the prosecution and defense attorneys questioned their potential jurors, Judge Kams granted a break.
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Opening statements are when the prosecution and the defense each outline their case (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). I next witnessed the prosecution present a Case-in-Chief. The Case-in-Chief is where the prosecutor has the burden of proving every element of the crime and in an effort to establish the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may present the direct testimony of witnesses and may introduce documents, scientific tests, and tangible evidence (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). At this point the arresting Fresno PD Officer Brian Twedt was called to the stand for questioning. I then witnessed a Cross-Examination which involves asking the witness questions about his or direct examination (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). It was clear that the defense attorney was trying to question the officer’s credibility and create doubt in the juror’s minds. I then saw a Redirect Examination, which is where following the cross examination the prosecutor may rehabilitate the witness, or repair any damage done to their cause by the defenses attorney’s questioning (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). The prosecutor was certainly trying to make the jurors aware of the officer’s expertise, having dealt with many DUI’s throughout his career. Judge Kams granted a Recross-Examination, which is when the defense may be permitted an additional opportunity to question the witness (Lippmann, 2014,
Opening statements are when the prosecution and the defense each outline their case (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). I next witnessed the prosecution present a Case-in-Chief. The Case-in-Chief is where the prosecutor has the burden of proving every element of the crime and in an effort to establish the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may present the direct testimony of witnesses and may introduce documents, scientific tests, and tangible evidence (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). At this point the arresting Fresno PD Officer Brian Twedt was called to the stand for questioning. I then witnessed a Cross-Examination which involves asking the witness questions about his or direct examination (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). It was clear that the defense attorney was trying to question the officer’s credibility and create doubt in the juror’s minds. I then saw a Redirect Examination, which is where following the cross examination the prosecutor may rehabilitate the witness, or repair any damage done to their cause by the defenses attorney’s questioning (Lippmann, 2014, p.533). The prosecutor was certainly trying to make the jurors aware of the officer’s expertise, having dealt with many DUI’s throughout his career. Judge Kams granted a Recross-Examination, which is when the defense may be permitted an additional opportunity to question the witness (Lippmann, 2014,