Rule 6.100.Examination of Witnesses
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 6.100
Plain-English Summary
One voice per witness, one voice per issue. Except for good cause shown, no more than one attorney for each party may examine a witness or present argument on an issue. A trial team can divide the work, but it cannot hand a witness back and forth or split an argument between two lawyers at the podium.
The limit is per witness and per issue, not per trial. Different lawyers on the same side can take different witnesses and argue different issues. What the rule prevents is two lawyers working the same witness or the same point.
Good cause is the only way out, and the rule does not define it. That leaves the showing to the court, which is a reason to raise it before the witness is called rather than in the middle of a cross-examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can two lawyers from my firm question the same witness?
Not without good cause shown. The rule allows no more than one attorney for each party to examine a witness, so a second lawyer stepping in needs the court's leave.
Can different lawyers on my team handle different witnesses?
Yes. The limit runs witness by witness. Splitting the witness list among several lawyers on the same side is consistent with the rule.
What counts as good cause?
The rule does not say, which leaves it to the court on the facts you present. Raise it in advance and explain what makes this witness or this issue different, rather than treating it as a formality.
Does the limit apply to legal argument as well as testimony?
Yes. The same sentence covers presenting argument on an issue, so one attorney for each party argues a given issue absent good cause.
Can one lawyer do the direct and another the redirect of the same witness?
The rule speaks of examining a witness without breaking the examination into stages, so the safer reading treats the whole examination as one lawyer's. If you want to divide it, ask the court and be ready to show good cause.