Criminology Term: Objection
In legal proceedings, an objection is a formal statement or challenge made by an attorney or party to a case during a trial or hearing.
The purpose of an objection is to alert the judge or presiding officer that a rule of evidence or procedure has been violated by the opposing party.
There are various grounds on which objections can be made, including relevance, hearsay, leading questions, and improper impeachment. For example, if a question asked by an attorney is leading, meaning it suggests the answer, the opposing attorney can object and ask the judge to instruct the witness not to answer.
When an objection is made, the opposing party typically has the opportunity to respond, and the judge will ultimately decide whether to sustain or overrule the objection.
If the objection is sustained, it means that the judge agrees with the objection and the evidence or testimony in question is not admissible. If the objection is overruled, it means that the judge disagrees with the objection and the evidence or testimony is allowed to be presented.
Objections are important because they help to ensure that the trial proceeds fairly and in accordance with the rules of evidence and procedure.
They also help to protect the rights of the parties involved and can prevent the introduction of prejudicial or irrelevant evidence.
