Editing Cross-examination (section)

== Affecting the outcome of jury trials ==
Cross-examination is a key component of a [[trial]] and the topic is given substantial attention during courses on [[trial advocacy]].<ref>Lubet, Steven; ''[[iarchive:moderntrialadvoc0000lube m2d0|Modern Trial Advocacy]]'', NITA, New York, NY 2004 pp. 83 et. seq. {{ISBN|1556818866}}</ref> The opinions of a [[jury]] or judge are often changed if cross-examination casts doubt on the witness. On the  other hand, a credible witness may reinforce the substance of their original statements and enhance the judge's or jury's belief. Though the [[closing argument]] is often considered the deciding moment of a trial, effective cross-examination wins trials.<ref>{{cite book
|title=Relentless Criminal Cross-Examination|last=Mahoney|first=Kevin J|location=Costa Mesa, California|publisher=James Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-1580121255}}</ref>

Attorneys anticipate hostile witnesses' responses during pretrial planning, and often attempt to shape the witnesses' perception of the questions to draw out information helpful to the attorney's case.<ref>Dreier, A.S.; ''Strategy, Planning & Litigating to Win''; Conatus, Boston, MA, 2012, pp. 79-85; {{ISBN|0615676952}}</ref>  Typically during an attorney's closing argument, they will repeat any admissions made by witnesses that favor their case. In the United States, cross-examination is seen as a core part of the entire [[adversarial system]] of justice, in that it "is the principal means by which the believability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested."<ref>''Davis v. Alaska'', {{ussc|415|308|1974}}.</ref> Another key component affecting a trial outcome is [[jury selection]], in which attorneys will attempt to include jurors from whom they feel they can get a favorable response or at the least an unbiased fair decision. So while there are many factors affecting the outcome of a trial, the cross-examination of a witness will often influence an open-minded unbiased jury searching for the certainty of facts upon which to base their decision.