LIST OF CHAPTERS Chapter 1 PRETRIAL.............................................. 1 Joseph J. Mellon, Esq. Chapter 2 MOTIONS IN LIMINE................................... 17 Thomas J. Tomazin, Esq. Chapter 3 JURY SELECTION..................................... 29 Lorraine E. Parker, Esq. Lauren E. Sykes, Esq. Chapter 4 JUROR MISCONDUCT DURING TRIAL.................. 57 Krista Maher, Esq. Chapter 5 RESERVED............................................ 75 Chapter 6 CONDUCT OF TRIAL................................... 77 Elizabeth J. Hyatt, Esq. Chapter 7 EXPERT WITNESSES.................................. 129 Beth Krulewitch, Esq. Chapter 8 LAY WITNESSES...................................... 169 David Hughes, Esq. Chapter 9 OPENING STATEMENTS.............................. 181 Jon F. Sands, Esq. Chapter 10 EVIDENCE RELEVANCE............................ 191 David W. Stark, Esq. Maggie Cass, Esq. Chapter 11 DOCUMENTS, THINGS, AND DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE......................... 217 Gregory R. Giometti, Esq. Chapter 12 EVIDENCE TESTIMONY............................ 253 David Hughes, Esq. TOC-1
Colorado Courtroom Handbook Chapter 13 EVIDENCE HEARSAY............................... 271 Andrew J. Felser, Esq. Chapter 14 USE OF DEPOSITIONS................................ 319 Bennett S. Aisenberg, Esq. H. Paul Himes, Jr., Esq. Chapter 15 USE OF PLEADINGS AND DISCOVERY................. 331 David Hughes, Esq. Chapter 16 RE-OPENING THE CASE.............................. 339 Patricia Jarzobski, Esq. Chapter 17 CLOSING ARGUMENT................................ 345 Robert A. Schuetze, Esq. Chapter 18 DIRECTED VERDICT/JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW................................ 363 George Koons III, Esq. Chapter 19 JURY INSTRUCTIONS................................. 375 Anna N. Martinez, Esq. Chapter 20 JURY DELIBERATIONS................................ 399 Anna N. Martinez, Esq. Chapter 21 POST-TRIAL JUROR COMMUNICATIONS.............. 423 Joseph J. Mellon, Esq. Chapter 22 POST-TRIAL MOTIONS AND ISSUES................... 431 Ross W. Pulkrabek, Esq. Aaron D. Goldhamer, Esq. Chapter 23 TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM.................. 461 David G. Mayhan, Esq. Stephen E. Baumann II, Esq. SUBJECT INDEX.................................................. 487 TOC-2
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 PRETRIAL.............................................. 1 1.1 COLORADO STATE PRETRIAL PRACTICE....... 1 1.2 COLORADO FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE.............................. 9 Chapter 2 MOTIONS IN LIMINE................................... 17 2.1 TIMING....................................... 17 2.2 PURPOSE..................................... 19 2.3 GROUNDS FOR GRANTING.................... 20 2.4 GROUNDS FOR DENYING...................... 22 2.5 EFFECT....................................... 23 2.6 PRESERVATION FOR APPELLATE REVIEW..... 24 2.7 APPELLATE REVIEW.......................... 26 2.8 MISCELLANEOUS............................. 27 Chapter 3 JURY SELECTION..................................... 29 3.1 RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL........................ 29 3.2 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR JURY SERVICE................................ 33 3.3 EXCUSE FROM SERVICE...................... 38 3.4 JURY QUESTIONNAIRES....................... 40 TOC-3
Colorado Courtroom Handbook 3.5 CHALLENGES FOR CAUSE..................... 41 3.6 PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES.................. 46 3.7 USE OF ALTERNATE JURORS.................. 48 3.8 VOIR DIRE.................................... 50 3.9 ERRORS IN VOIR DIRE......................... 53 3.10 EFFECT OF IMPANELMENT.................... 54 3.11 UNANIMITY OF VERDICT...................... 56 Chapter 4 JUROR MISCONDUCT DURING TRIAL.................. 57 4.1 JUROR MISCONDUCT RESULTING IN MISTRIAL.................................. 57 4.2 JUROR MISCONDUCT RESULTING IN NEW TRIAL................................ 60 4.3 SPECIFIC ISSUES.............................. 63 Chapter 5 RESERVED............................................ 75 Chapter 6 CONDUCT OF TRIAL................................... 77 6.1 EXCLUSION OF WITNESSES................... 78 6.2 JUROR NOTES................................ 82 6.3 JUROR QUESTIONS........................... 83 6.4 JUDGE QUESTIONS............................ 84 6.5 JUDGE AS WITNESS........................... 85 TOC-4
Table of Contents 6.6 JUDGE DISQUALIFICATION................... 86 6.7 JUDICIAL NOTICE............................. 96 6.8 MOTIONS FOR MISTRIAL.................... 102 6.9 AVAILABILITY OF WITNESSES................ 105 6.10 EXPERIMENTS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND JUROR VIEW OF PREMISES.............. 113 6.10.1 Experiments And Demonstrations.......... 113 6.10.2 Juror View Of Premises.................. 114 6.11 DAY-IN-THE-LIFE FILMS...................... 116 6.12 TIME/WITNESS LIMITATIONS................. 117 6.13 DIRECT EXAMINATION....................... 119 6.14 CROSS-EXAMINATION....................... 120 6.15 REDIRECT AND RECROSS-EXAMINATION..... 124 6.16 REBUTTAL AND SUR-REBUTTAL.............. 125 6.17 REOPENING THE CASE IN CHIEF............. 127 Chapter 7 EXPERT WITNESSES.................................. 129 7.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW........................ 130 7.2 FOUNDATION FOR ADMISSIBILITY........... 131 7.2.1 Generally.............................. 131 7.2.2 Standard For Admissibility................ 135 7.2.3 Basis Of Opinion........................ 139 7.2.4 Basis Of Opinion: Assumptions............. 142 7.2.5 Basis Of Opinion: Hearsay................ 143 TOC-5
Colorado Courtroom Handbook 7.2.6 Hypothetical Questions................... 143 7.2.7 Disqualification Of Expert................. 144 7.2.8 Specific Issues.......................... 145 7.2.9 Medical Opinion And Testimony............ 148 7.2.10 Specific Kinds Of Expert Testimony........ 150 7.2.11 Reliance On Other Experts............... 151 7.2.12 Reliance On Extrinsic Evidence........... 152 7.3 SPECIAL ISSUES.............................. 153 7.3.1 Voir Dire............................... 153 7.3.2 Offered Area Of Expertise................. 153 7.3.3 Scope Of Testimony...................... 162 7.3.4 Cross-Examination....................... 164 7.3.5 Payment............................... 166 7.3.6 Expert Disclosures....................... 167 Chapter 8 LAY WITNESSES...................................... 169 8.1 PRETRIAL DISCLOSURE...................... 169 8.2 SUBPOENAS.................................. 171 8.3 COMPETENCY............................... 174 8.4 LAY OPINION TESTIMONY.................... 177 8.5 PAYMENT.................................... 179 Chapter 9 OPENING STATEMENTS.............................. 181 9.1 GENERAL.................................... 181 9.2 LIMITATIONS................................ 183 9.3 OBJECTIONS................................. 188 9.4 EFFECT OF OPENING STATEMENT............ 188 TOC-6
Table of Contents Chapter 10 EVIDENCE RELEVANCE............................ 191 10.1 STANDARD OF RELEVANCE.................. 192 10.2 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE................ 196 10.3 IMPEACHMENT.............................. 196 10.4 COLLATERAL SOURCE....................... 198 10.5 USE OF A NEGATIVE.......................... 199 10.6 POLYGRAPH EVIDENCE...................... 200 10.7 PRIOR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION... 201 10.8 REMARRIAGE IN A WRONGFUL DEATH CASE................................. 202 10.9 HYPNOSIS................................... 202 10.10 PRIOR CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS............. 203 10.11 CHARACTER EVIDENCE...................... 204 10.12 HABIT; ROUTINE PRACTICE.................. 207 10.13 SUBSEQUENT REMEDIAL MEASURES......... 208 10.14 OFFERS TO COMPROMISE.................... 209 10.15 PAYMENT OF MEDICAL AND SIMILAR EXPENSES/APOLOGIES....................... 211 10.16 CRIMINAL PLEA/CONVICTION............... 211 10.17 INSURANCE.................................. 213 10.18 EVIDENCE PRECLUDED BY STATUTE......... 214 TOC-7
Colorado Courtroom Handbook 10.19 PRIOR ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES............ 215 10.20 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS........................ 216 Chapter 11 DOCUMENTS, THINGS, AND DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE......................... 217 11.1 AUTHENTICATION........................... 217 11.2 ORIGINAL OF DOCUMENTS................... 228 11.3 SUMMARIES OF DOCUMENTS................ 233 11.4 TANGIBLE EVIDENCE: CHAIN OF CUSTODY... 234 11.5 PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOTAPES............ 241 11.6 HANDWRITING.............................. 246 11.7 DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE................. 249 Chapter 12 EVIDENCE TESTIMONY............................ 253 12.1 RULES OF COMPETENCY..................... 253 12.2 IMPEACHMENT.............................. 255 12.3 REFRESHING RECOLLECTION............... 261 12.4 PRIVILEGE.................................. 262 12.5 INTERPRETERS.............................. 268 TOC-8
Table of Contents Chapter 13 EVIDENCE HEARSAY............................... 271 13.1 THE HEARSAY RULE......................... 272 13.2 WHAT IS HEARSAY: DEFINITIONS............. 274 13.3 WHAT IS NOT HEARSAY...................... 275 13.3.1 Statements Offered Other Than For Their Truth Or Falsity................ 275 13.3.2 Prior Statements Of A Witness............. 276 13.3.3 Admissions By A Party Opponent.......... 278 13.3.4 Conspiratorial Statements................ 281 13.4 EXCEPTIONS TO HEARSAY: AVAILABILITY OF DECLARANT IMMATERIAL................ 282 13.4.1 Present Sense Impression................. 283 13.4.2 Excited Utterance....................... 284 13.4.3 Then-Existing Mental, Emotional, Or Physical Condition................... 286 13.4.4 Statements For Purposes Of Medical Diagnosis Or Treatment.................. 288 13.4.5 Recorded Recollection................... 290 13.4.6 Records Of Regularly Conducted Activity... 291 13.4.7 Absence Of Entry In Business Records...... 295 13.4.8 Public Records And Reports.............. 296 13.4.9 Records Of Vital Statistics................ 298 13.4.10 Absence Of Public Record Or Entry....... 298 13.4.11 Records Of Religious Organizations....... 299 13.4.12 Marriage, Baptismal, And Similar Certificates.................... 299 13.4.13 Family Records....................... 300 13.4.14 Records Of Documents Affecting An Interest In Property.................. 300 13.4.15 Statements In Documents Affecting An Interest In Property.................. 301 13.4.16 Ancient Documents.................... 301 13.4.17 Market Reports........................ 302 TOC-9
Colorado Courtroom Handbook 13.4.18 Learned Treatises...................... 302 13.4.19 Reputation Concerning Personal Or Family History..................... 303 13.4.20 Reputation Concerning Boundaries Or General History..................... 304 13.4.21 Reputation As To Character.............. 304 13.4.22 Judgment Of Previous Conviction......... 305 13.4.23 Judgment As To Personal, Family, Or General History Or Boundaries........ 305 13.5 EXCEPTIONS TO HEARSAY: DECLARANT UNAVAILABLE.................. 306 13.5.1 Former Testimony...................... 308 13.5.2 Statement Under Belief Of Impending Death....................... 309 13.5.3 Statement Against Interest................ 310 13.5.4 Statement Of Personal Or Family History.... 312 13.5.5 Forfeiture, By Wrongdoing, Of Right To Oppose Admission Of Declarant s Statement (Federal Rule Only)............ 313 13.6 RESIDUAL HEARSAY EXCEPTION............. 313 13.7 HEARSAY WITHIN HEARSAY................. 316 13.8 ATTACKING AND SUPPORTING DECLARANT S CREDIBILITY................. 317 Chapter 14 USE OF DEPOSITIONS................................ 319 14.1 AGAINST ADVERSE PARTY................... 319 14.2 UNAVAILABLE WITNESS...................... 322 14.3 OBJECTIONS................................. 324 14.4 IMPEACHMENT.............................. 326 TOC-10
Table of Contents 14.5 TRIAL PRESERVATION DEPOSITIONS......... 327 14.6 VIDEO DEPOSITIONS......................... 328 14.7 ERRORS AND IRREGULARITIES.............. 329 Chapter 15 USE OF PLEADINGS AND DISCOVERY................. 331 15.1 GENERAL PLEADINGS........................ 331 15.2 ANSWERS TO DISCOVERY.................... 335 15.3 PLEADINGS IN OTHER CASES................ 336 Chapter 16 RE-OPENING THE CASE.............................. 339 16.1 DISCRETIONARY RELIEF..................... 339 16.2 SPECIFIC ISSUES............................. 342 Chapter 17 CLOSING ARGUMENT................................ 345 17.1 DISCRETION OF COURT...................... 346 17.2 ARGUING EVIDENCE AND INFERENCES/SPECULATION.................. 348 17.3 COUNSEL S TESTIFYING PERSONAL BELIEF........................... 351 17.4 APPEALING TO PASSION AND PREJUDICE/ INFLAMMATORY ATTACKS ON ADVERSE ATTORNEY.................................. 352 17.5 THE GOLDEN RULE ARGUMENT............ 354 17.6 USE OF TRIAL TRANSCRIPT.................. 354 TOC-11
Colorado Courtroom Handbook 17.7 USE OF EXHIBITS AND DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE................. 355 17.8 OBJECTIONS................................. 355 17.9 CURATIVE INSTRUCTIONS................... 357 17.10 INVITED ARGUMENT/ COMMENT/REBUTTAL....................... 358 17.11 STATEMENT ABOUT THE LAW................ 359 17.12 BINDING EFFECT OF ADMISSIONS IN CLOSING.................................. 359 17.13 PER DIEM PAIN AND SUFFERING........... 360 17.14 TIMING OF CLOSING IN RELATION TO COURT INSTRUCTING THE JURY............. 360 Chapter 18 DIRECTED VERDICT/JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW................................ 363 18.1 TIME TO MAKE THE MOTION................ 363 18.2 STANDARD FOR DECIDING MOTION FOR DIRECTED VERDICT/JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW........................... 368 18.3 CRIMINAL TRIALS........................... 371 Chapter 19 JURY INSTRUCTIONS................................. 375 19.1 PRETRIAL EXCHANGE OF INSTRUCTIONS.... 375 19.2 STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS............. 377 TOC-12
Table of Contents 19.3 SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONS................ 378 19.4 FORM OF SUBMITTING INSTRUCTIONS....... 381 19.5 EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION....... 382 19.6 INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY BEFORE OR AFTER CLOSING ARGUMENTS................ 384 19.7 COPIES OF INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY.......... 385 19.8 OBJECTIONS TO INSTRUCTIONS............. 385 19.9 GENERAL AND SPECIAL VERDICTS........... 390 19.10 ALLEN INSTRUCTION (DEADLOCKED JURY)........................ 395 Chapter 20 JURY DELIBERATIONS................................ 399 20.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW........................ 399 20.2 SPECIAL ISSUES.............................. 400 20.2.1 Sequestration Requirements............... 400 20.2.2 What Is Allowed In The Jury Room........ 401 20.2.3 Reading Back Of Testimony.............. 403 20.2.4 Additional Instructions................... 404 20.2.5 Answering Questions.................... 406 20.2.6 Deadlocked Jury........................ 407 20.2.7 Sealed Verdict.......................... 409 20.2.8 Polling The Jury........................ 410 20.2.9 Mistakes In The Verdict.................. 413 20.2.10 Objections To Form Of The Verdict....... 415 20.2.11 Amending The Verdict As To Form........ 415 20.2.12 Inconsistent Verdict.................... 417 20.2.13 Loss Of Juror During Deliberations........ 419 20.2.14 Juror Misconduct In Reaching Verdict..... 421 TOC-13
Colorado Courtroom Handbook Chapter 21 POST-TRIAL JUROR COMMUNICATIONS.............. 423 21.1 PERMISSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS............ 423 21.2 CONFUSION OF JURY VERDICT............... 424 21.3 IMPEACHMENT OF VERDICT................. 424 Chapter 22 POST-TRIAL MOTIONS AND ISSUES................... 431 22.1 ENTRY OF JUDGMENT....................... 431 22.2 TAXED COSTS................................ 434 22.3 OFFER OF SETTLEMENT..................... 442 22.4 MOTIONS FOR POST-TRIAL RELIEF........... 445 22.5 RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT OR ORDER........ 450 22.6 STAY OF JUDGMENT OF PROCEEDINGS....... 453 EXHIBIT Exhibit 22A Items Included As Costs Under C.R.S. 13-16-122.................. 457 Chapter 23 TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM.................. 461 23.1 INTRODUCTION.............................. 461 23.2 COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT.... 463 23.3 THE AUDIENCES OF ANY COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION............... 465 TOC-14
Table of Contents 23.4 EVIDENTIARY AND PRACTICAL CONCERNS RELATED TO THE USE OF COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY............................... 469 23.5 JUROR USE OF TECHNOLOGY................ 473 23.6 RECOVERABLE COSTS FOR THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY....................... 473 23.7 CONCLUSION................................ 474 EXHIBITS Exhibit 23A Article, Courtroom Technology Manual for Attorneys in the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse............ 479 SUBJECT INDEX.................................................. 487 TOC-15