Direct Examination Direct examination is a legal term used to refer to the questioning of a witness by the party who called that witness to testify at trial. In Alabama, direct examination is an essential part of the trial process and is governed by the Alabama Rules of Evidence. During direct examination, the attorney who called the witness to the stand will ask questions designed to elicit testimony that supports their case. The attorney may ask open-ended questions that allow the witness to provide narrative answers, or they may ask specific questions that require a yes or no answer. The goal of direct examination is to establish the witness’s credibility and to introduce evidence that supports the attorney’s case. Under Alabama law, there are certain rules that govern direct examination. For example, leading questions (questions that suggest the answer) are generally not allowed during direct examination unless the witness is hostile or adverse to the party calling them. Additionally, the attorney conducting the direct examination is generally not allowed to ask “compound” questions (questions that contain two or more questions within one) unless the questions are closely related. Overall, direct examination is an important part of the trial process in Alabama, as it allows attorneys to present evidence and testimony that supports their case.