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MT,
I cringe whenever any of my clients have to take the stand and be cross examined. I also cringe every time the Judge asks a client of mine a question, whether it be on the stand or during sentencing. Luckily, I don't do too much criminal stuff.
As far as Vang is concerned, I never would have had him take the stand unless he and I had gone over his testimony 100 times and he knew exactly what he was supposed to say (i.e., he could state the answers to my questions without thinking too much). Now, please do not take this as me coaching my client as to what his testimony should be. When I initially interview a client, I ask them what happened. If they tell me they are guilty, there is no way they will be taking the stand. If they give me some alibi or some other description of the facts the exculpates them from the crime, then we got over those facts until they know them forward and back.
Also, keep in mind that the State's Attorney tries to put words into the defendant's mouth on several occassions. I had the State's Attorney try that on me while I was in law school. I was pissed, to say the least.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better.
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