What is the scope of cross-examination?

• A. Facts raised in direct
• B. Witness credibility
• C. Both a and b
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Cross-examination serves to test what a witness has said, both in terms of the factual content and the reliability of the witness. You can drill into the details of the direct testimony—examining the specific facts the witness asserted for omissions, contradictions, and accuracy. At the same time, you can challenge credibility by exploring bias, interest, motive to misrepresent, and issues with memory or perception. Because cross-examination legitimately covers both the substantive facts and the witness’s credibility, the option that includes both is the best choice. The other options miss one aspect or the other, so they aren’t sufficient on their own. In short, the scope includes both the facts raised on direct and the witness’s credibility.