Editing Cross-examination (section)

== Variations by jurisdiction ==
In the [[Federal judiciary of the United States|United States federal courts]], a cross-examining [[lawyer|attorney]] is generally limited by Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to the "subject matter of the direct examination and matters affecting the witness's credibility". The rule also permits the trial court, in its discretion, to "allow inquiry into additional matters as if on direct examination". Many [[State court (United States)|state courts]] do permit a lawyer to cross-examine a witness on matters not raised during direct examination, though California restricts cross-examination to "any matter within the scope of the direct examination". Similarly, courts in England, South Africa, Australia, and Canada allow a cross-examiner to exceed the scope of direct examination.

Since a witness called by the opposing party is presumed to be [[hostile witness|hostile]], [[leading question]]s are allowed on cross-examination. A witness called by a direct examiner, on the other hand, may only be treated as hostile by that examiner after being permitted to do so by the judge, at the request of that examiner and as a result of the witness being openly antagonistic and/or prejudiced against the party that called them.<ref>Ehrhardt, Charles W. and Stephanie J. Young, [http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/issues/232/ehrhardt.html "Using Leading Questions During Direct Examination"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103082145/http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/issues/232/ehrhardt.html|date=2008-11-03}}, Florida State University Law Review, 1996. Accessed November 26, 2008.</ref>