CROSS EXAMINATION: A LEGAL ART IN THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH

“Cross-examination is generally considered to be the most difficult branch of the multifarious duties of the advocate,” said Francis Wellman in his groundbreaking work, acknowledging that although genius is a gift, it takes even the most gifted “many years of training and careful observation to arrive at anything approaching perfection.” This singular statement sums up the_x000D_ essence of cross-examination perfectly; it is not just a legal procedure but rather a high-stakes art form. This article traces the roots of this crucial stage in a trial and how it has evolved as an art form that requires true mastery.