Dec
30
Question about a legal term in a movie?
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Question by yet-knish!: Question about a legal term in a movie?
I’ve seen “My Cousin Vinny” a bunch of times, and there’s a legal term used towards the end that I can’t make out. It apparently means a questioning of an expert witness to determine if the witness is qualified to testify in that capacity. It sounds something like “vwa-deeya”. Can anyone tell me the name of that term?
Best answer:
Answer by laughter_every_day
Voir dire. From the French, to see, to speak.
Add your own answer in the comments!
December 30th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Rent the DVD and watch it with subtitles.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Laughter is correct. It’s voir dire. It allows the other attorney to ask a witness questions in order to figure out whether the witness is qualified to testify.
The others are correct about it being used for jurors as well, but in the movie, it was only used for Marissa Tormei.
My favorite line is “What’s a yute?”
December 30th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
It is the method used to determine potential jurors and to determine if a special witness is qualified. And as pointed out it is Voir Dire.
December 30th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
my favorite “criminal trial” flick of all time. closer to the real thing than any other movie made, and i have tried nearly 300 felony jury trials. i think you are referring to “voir dire.” it is usually the examination of potential jurors during the jury selection process, requiring each to “speak the truth” in response to questions focused on the potential juror’s biases for or against the prosecution or defendant. however, in the context that you refer, it is also the request of opposing counsel during a trial to examine an “expert” regarding his or her qualifications to render an “expert” opinion on the subject matter sought to be introduced.