Testifying in court often creates anxiety for the witness. Lawyers will tap into that insecurity when cross examining someone. On the flip side, when questioning your own witness, a lawyer will start out with a few simple questions to relieve that stress and get you comfortable - "what's your name, where do you live, what do you do?..." So, here we are, stone columns and Confederate soldiers outside, wood paneled walls inside, robed judge on a high bench, armed deputies, suited lawyers and a fidgeting witness clearly uncomfortable in his Sunday clothes. The lawyer begins - "State your name." "Where do you live?" "How long have you lived there?" "What do you do for a living?" "How do you know the defendant?" Witness - "She's my wife." "When did you get married?" Silence. And I'm talking 5 seconds of dead silence. The witness is staring into the corner where the ceiling meets the wall. The same place where I discovered many of my Trigonometry exam answers. "Ummm. Juuunnne......No, wait......Juuuully?" He looks over at the woman sitting next to the lawyer. She is also beginning to fidget. "Honey?..." There are certain looks you get from your wife that you recognize right away. At that very moment, I believe my lawsuit to take away this man's home dropped completely off his stressometer. I almost hated to light up......almost. #proudlymarriedsinceJune26,1993
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