Michael J. DeBlis III, Esq.

The traditional model of cross-examination often rewards aggression, confrontation, and domination. Many lawyers enter cross believing the louder, sharper, or more relentless they are, the more effective they will be. And while controlled aggression certainly has its place, overreliance on hostility creates a significant problem: eventually, the lawyer and witness enter a stalemate.

Direct examination is where trials are truly won, not by showcasing the lawyer, but by making the witness and their story compelling, credible, and easy for the jury to follow.

Most trial lawyers obsess over cross-examination. It’s flashy. It’s confrontational. It wins headlines. But trials are rarely won on cross.