Has anybody here had to testify in court?

Try to dress neatly. You don’t have to wear your fanciest clothes, but neat and not revealing is best. For example, a cardigan, a blouse, a sweater, dress pants, khaki pants (aka chino pants), nice jeans, all would be some examples of things that you could wear. Some may refer to it as “business casual.”

Tell the truth – - if you don’t know an answer, tell them that “you don’t know”.

My father was an “expert witness” for aircraft accidents and was in several cases in the 1940s and early 1950s.

Business casual, be honest as to your knowledge of the situation. Odds are you won’t have to do much of anything.

99% of my responses will be ” I don’t know” This will be a waste of time for everyone. I wasn’t even there when it happened.

@MakeItSo1701 There may be one or two pertinent things a lawyer wants to ask you. “I don’t know” may be what they’re wanting you to say.

I have been put on notice once that I may be called in as a technical expert for a work related event. It did not come to pass but I may be an expert witness after I retire as a side gig.

Yes, a number of times.

Just answer the questions adding nothing more than asked. Dress nicely, like you would dress for Church.

Tell the truth. Don’t let them put words in your mouth. If they try to make you say yes or no and neither is correct, state what is correct as short as possible, don’t embellish.

I don’t know is fine if that is the truth. I don’t know, I wasn’t present. All ok.

Dress respectably. No shorts or mini skirts. No tank tops, have at least a short sleeve. I wouldn’t wear jeans to court, but if that is all you have you can ask the court if the judge allows it.

Be honest, dress like you would expect to dress for a grandma or grandpa you respect and love but who is a bit prudish. Don’t answer more than what was asked, unless you need to explain something to clear up a misconception. Like say, they ask you to identify the person and you point to the person in question and they notice you are wearing glasses and ask if you were wearing it that day and you say no. You don’t want them to suggest you didn’t see the person if you know the person was close enough and you didn’t need the glasses. So you say, no but they were only 3 feet away and I don’t need my glasses for that distance. Or that what you have on is for reading only, and your distance sight is just fine.
Also speak in full sentences and use sir and ma’am, and no slang.

I’ve testified in court for my jobs, a bunch of times, and I’ve counseled people who were going to testify to defend their jobs. I always gave the advice of, don’t ramble on. Answer the question that is asked and that’s it. Don’t get into explanations, just say yes or no. If the attorney wants an explanation or a clarification, they will ask for it. Then if they ask you explain. For example, if they ask “are you an employee of John Smith and Company?” You say “yes.” You don’t say “Yes, I’ve been there for four years. I’m a secretary.”

@jca2 I agree, but when I was deposed the opposing lawyer asked me a lot of yes or no that he was him trying to get me to say yes when yes was not fully accurate. Trying to get me to say I was all healed when I wasn’t and that I was better with some injuries faster than what was the truth is what I remember most. He kept trying to corner me with wanting yes or no.

The only time I had to testify was at a court-martial when I was in the Navy. Dress was not an option…I had to wear a uniform. But as far as testifying, I just told the truth. I didn’t try getting coy or try to slant my answers…I just gave the information I had on the case.

I’ve been deposed a few times but never gone to court. Agree with all the answers given.

Navy court martial was my only time also.
I gave answers as others have described here.
I was there to testify about my husband, who was on trial for unauthorized absence, and missing ship’s movement, which means he wasn’t on board when it left.

I kept my answers short, but when prosecution asked me one of those questions meant to make things appear how they want, I would give his defense a strong glance. He made note of those questions, and when it was his turn, he repeated them, and asked me if I could elaborate on my previous answer.
It worked like we’d rehearsed it. We hadn’t, but cool that he caught what I pitched.
You might try that, if you get asked anything which makes you feel uncomfortable with the answer you have to give.
Also allowed is “Your Honor, may I elaborate?”
They usually care primarily for truth, so if you remain calm, and respectful, a judge will allow request to clarify, so long as it isn’t a long answer that goes nowhere.