CT Bar Reexamination 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Connecticut rules, redirect examination is limited to what scope?
- Any relevant matter not yet covered
- Matters raised on cross-examination (Correct answer)
- Only new evidence discovered after direct
- Whatever the court permits without restriction
Correct answer: Matters raised on cross-examination
Redirect examination is limited to matters raised during cross-examination to avoid surprise and control trial efficiency.
Question 2: After redirect examination in a Connecticut civil trial, the opposing party may conduct:
- A full new cross-examination on any topic
- Recross-examination limited to redirect scope (Correct answer)
- No further examination without court permission
- A second direct examination if the court allows
Correct answer: Recross-examination limited to redirect scope
Recross-examination is permitted but confined to matters addressed during redirect, mirroring the same scope limitation.
Question 3: A witness was impeached on cross with a prior inconsistent statement. On redirect, counsel may properly:
- Introduce entirely new corroborating evidence
- Have the witness explain or clarify the inconsistency (Correct answer)
- Re-read the prior statement to rehabilitate credibility
- Call a separate witness to vouch for the first witness
Correct answer: Have the witness explain or clarify the inconsistency
Redirect allows the witness to explain or contextualize a prior inconsistent statement raised on cross-examination.
Question 4: In Connecticut, which statement correctly describes the trial court's authority over reexamination?
- Courts have no discretion; reexamination is an absolute right
- Courts may allow further examination beyond scope for good cause (Correct answer)
- Courts must allow unlimited rounds of examination
- Only appellate courts may limit reexamination scope
Correct answer: Courts may allow further examination beyond scope for good cause
Connecticut courts retain broad discretion to permit examination beyond the standard scope when justice so requires.
Question 5: A party calls an expert witness. On cross, opposing counsel questions the expert's methodology. The proper redirect purpose is to:
- Introduce new expert opinions not raised on direct
- Rehabilitate the expert by addressing the methodology challenge (Correct answer)
- Replace the expert with a more credible substitute
- Move to strike all cross-examination testimony
Correct answer: Rehabilitate the expert by addressing the methodology challenge
Redirect of an expert properly addresses challenges to methodology or opinions raised during cross-examination.
Question 6: When a witness volunteers information beyond the redirect question, the trial court in Connecticut should:
- Allow it because the witness controls their own testimony
- Strike the non-responsive portion on opposing party's objection (Correct answer)
- Automatically declare a mistrial for procedural violation
- Permit it since redirect has no scope limitations
Correct answer: Strike the non-responsive portion on opposing party's objection
Non-responsive answers may be stricken upon objection; witnesses must answer the question posed, not expand beyond it.
Question 7: A Connecticut court refuses to allow redirect examination after cross-examination. On appeal, the standard of review is:
- De novo, because examination rights are constitutional
- Abuse of discretion, because the trial court controls examination (Correct answer)
- Harmless error per se, requiring automatic reversal
- Plain error, applied only when no objection was made below
Correct answer: Abuse of discretion, because the trial court controls examination
Appellate courts review a trial court's decisions on the scope and allowance of reexamination under the abuse of discretion standard.
CT Bar Reexamination 2
Under Connecticut rules, redirect examination is limited to what scope?